Jurassic
Massospondylus
Massospondylus carinatus
The catalogue presents Massospondylus as a herbivore member of Massospondylidae that lived during the Jurassic, between 201.4–184.2 Ma. Its estimated range is 4.0–6.0 m in length and 135–490 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Massospondylus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Owen (1854).
The PBDB places it in Massospondylidae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Massospondylidae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Massospondylidae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Carnian to the Toarcian.
The PBDB catalogues 11 occurrences, with material from the Elliot Formation (6), from the Clarens Formation (3) and from the Upper Karroo Sandstone Formation (1). Provenance: South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The catalogue records the holotype as NHMUK PV R1854 and the type locality as “Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa”.
- NHMUK PV R1854
- Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa
The catalogue's reference measurements are 4.0–6.0 m in length and 135–490 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 4.0-6.0 m
- 135-490 kg
The record gathers 86 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
- 4.0–6.0 m
- Weight
- 135–490 kg
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 201.4–184.2 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1854
- Described by
- Richard Owen
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Massospondylidae
- Genus
- Massospondylus
- Species
- M. carinatus
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
- NHMUK PV R1854
- Type locality
- Upper Elliot Formation, South Africa