Triassic
Herrerasaurus
Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis
The catalogue presents Herrerasaurus as a carnivore member of Herrerasauridae that lived during the Triassic, between 231.4–228.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 3.0–6.0 m in length and 210–350 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Herrerasaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Reig (1963).
The PBDB places it in Herrerasauridae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Herrerasauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Herrerasauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range is the Carnian.
The PBDB catalogues 10 occurrences, with material from the Ischigualasto Formation (10). Provenance: Argentina.
The catalogue records the holotype as PVL 2566 and the type locality as “Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina”.
- PVL 2566
- Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina
The catalogue's reference measurements are 3.0–6.0 m in length and 210–350 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 3.0-6.0 m
- 210-350 kg
The record gathers 54 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
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
- 3.0–6.0 m
- Weight
- 210–350 kg
- Period
- Triassic
- Time range
- 231.4–228.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1963
- Described by
- Osvaldo Reig
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Herrerasauridae
- Genus
- Herrerasaurus
- Species
- H. ischigualastensis
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
- PVL 2566
- Type locality
- Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina