Elaphrosaurus — artistic reconstruction

Jurassic

Elaphrosaurus

Elaphrosaurus bambergi

The catalogue presents Elaphrosaurus as a carnivore member of Noasauridae that lived during the Jurassic, between 154.0–150.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 6.0–7.0 m in length and 200–250 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.

Carnivore154.0–150.0 MaNoasauridae

Evidence-backed summary

For Elaphrosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Janensch (1920).

The PBDB places it in Elaphrosaurinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Noasauridae.

In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Kimmeridgian to the Cenomanian.

The PBDB catalogues 2 occurrences, with material from the Tendaguru Formation (2). Provenance: Tanzania.

The catalogue records the holotype as HMN MB R.1969 and the type locality as “Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania”.

  • HMN MB R.1969
  • Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania

The catalogue's reference measurements are 6.0–7.0 m in length and 200–250 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.

  • 6.0-7.0 m
  • 200-250 kg

The record gathers 51 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.

Records compiled on 2026-08-08

Where it lived

Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.

Present-day map2 PBDB
TendaguruTendaguru
PBDB occurrences
Map at the time · ~150 Ma2 PBDB
TendaguruTendaguru
PBDB occurrences
Present mean latitude9.7° S
Reconstructed mean latitude38.0° S

Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.

Paleobiology Database · GPlates · CC BY 4.0

Artistic 3D reconstruction

There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.

Physical Specifications

Length
6.0–7.0 m
Weight
200–250 kg
Period
Jurassic
Time range
154.0–150.0 Ma

Discovery Information

First Discovery
1920
Described by
Werner Janensch

Taxonomic Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Saurischia
Family
Noasauridae
Genus
Elaphrosaurus
Species
E. bambergi

Paleobiology Database · txn:38546

Data status

Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.

Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.

Type specimen
HMN MB R.1969
Type locality
Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania