Cretaceous
Masiakasaurus
Masiakasaurus knopfleri
The catalogue presents Masiakasaurus as a carnivore member of Noasauridae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 70.0–66.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 1.8–2.0 m in length and 35–40 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Maevarano Formation, Madagascar. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Masiakasaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Sampson et al. (2001).
The PBDB places it in Noasaurinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Noasauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Noasauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range is the Maastrichtian.
The PBDB catalogues 29 occurrences, with material from the Maevarano Formation (29). Provenance: Madagascar.
The catalogue records the holotype as FMNH PR 2481 and the type locality as “Maevarano Formation, Madagascar”.
- FMNH PR 2481
- Maevarano Formation, Madagascar
The catalogue's reference measurements are 1.8–2.0 m in length and 35–40 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 1.8-2.0 m
- 35-40 kg
The record gathers 28 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
- 1.8–2.0 m
- Weight
- 35–40 kg
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 70.0–66.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 2001
- Described by
- Scott Sampson
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Noasauridae
- Genus
- Masiakasaurus
- Species
- M. knopfleri
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
- FMNH PR 2481
- Type locality
- Maevarano Formation, Madagascar