Jurassic
Sarcosaurus
Sarcosaurus woodi
The catalogue presents Sarcosaurus as a carnivore member of Ceratosauria that lived during the Jurassic, between 199.0–195.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 3.0–4.0 m in length and 100–200 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Lower Lias, Leicestershire, England. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Sarcosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Andrews (1921).
The PBDB places it in Coelophysoidea, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Ceratosauria.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Ceratosauria
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Hettangian to the Sinemurian.
The PBDB catalogues 4 occurrences, with material from the Broadford Beds Formation (1) and from the Blue Lias Formation (1). Provenance: United Kingdom.
The catalogue records the holotype as NHMUK PV R3542 and the type locality as “Lower Lias, Leicestershire, England”.
- NHMUK PV R3542
- Lower Lias, Leicestershire, England
The catalogue's reference measurements are 3.0–4.0 m in length and 100–200 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 3.0-4.0 m
- 100-200 kg
The record gathers 18 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
- 3.0–4.0 m
- Weight
- 100–200 kg
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 199.0–195.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1921
- Described by
- Andrew Smith Woodward
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Ceratosauria
- Genus
- Sarcosaurus
- Species
- S. woodi
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 R3542
- Type locality
- Lower Lias, Leicestershire, England