Elaphrosaurus
Elaphrosaurus bambergi
Elaphrosaurus ( el-AH-froh-SOR-əs) is a genus of ceratosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 155 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Period in what is now Tanzania in Africa. Elaphrosaurus was a medium-sized but lightly built member of the group that could grow up to 6.2 m (20 ft) long. Morphologically, this dinosaur is significant in two ways. Firstly, it has a relatively long body but is very shallow-chested for a theropod of its size. Secondly, it has very short hindlimbs in comparison with its body. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this genus is likely a ceratosaur. Earlier suggestions that it is a late surviving coelophysoid have been examined but generally dismissed. Elaphrosaurus is currently believed to be a very close relative of Limusaurus, an unusual beaked ceratosaurian which may have been either herbivorous or omnivorous.
- Family
- Noasauridae
- Order
- Saurischia
- Period
- Jurassic (154.0–150.0 Ma)
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Length
- 6.0–7.0 m
- Weight
- 200–250 kg
- Type locality
- Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania
- Holotype
- HMN MB R.1969
- PBDB
- txn:38546