Jurassic
Sinosaurus
Sinosaurus triassicus
The catalogue presents Sinosaurus as a carnivore member of Coelophysidae that lived during the Jurassic, between 201.0–190.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 5.0–6.0 m in length and 150–200 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Sinosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Young (1940).
The PBDB places it in Theropoda, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Coelophysidae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Coelophysidae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Hettangian to the Sinemurian.
The PBDB catalogues 16 occurrences, with material from the Lufeng Formation (16). Provenance: China.
The catalogue records the holotype as IVPP V34 and the type locality as “Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China”.
- IVPP V34
- Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China
The catalogue's reference measurements are 5.0–6.0 m in length and 150–200 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 5.0-6.0 m
- 150-200 kg
The record gathers 19 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
- 5.0–6.0 m
- Weight
- 150–200 kg
- Period
- Jurassic
- Time range
- 201.0–190.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1940
- Described by
- CC Young
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Coelophysidae
- Genus
- Sinosaurus
- Species
- S. triassicus
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
- IVPP V34
- Type locality
- Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China