Triassic
Staurikosaurus
Staurikosaurus pricei
The catalogue presents Staurikosaurus as a carnivore member of Staurikosauridae that lived during the Triassic, between 233.0–225.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 2.0–2.2 m in length and 10–15 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Santa Maria Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Staurikosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Colbert (1970).
The PBDB places it in Herrerasauridae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Staurikosauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Staurikosauridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range is the Carnian.
The PBDB catalogues 2 occurrences, with material from the Santa Maria Formation (2). Provenance: Brazil.
The catalogue records the holotype as MCZ 1669 and the type locality as “Santa Maria Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil”.
- MCZ 1669
- Santa Maria Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
The catalogue's reference measurements are 2.0–2.2 m in length and 10–15 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 2.0-2.2 m
- 10-15 kg
The record gathers 37 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
- 2.0–2.2 m
- Weight
- 10–15 kg
- Period
- Triassic
- Time range
- 233.0–225.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1970
- Described by
- Edwin Colbert
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Staurikosauridae
- Genus
- Staurikosaurus
- Species
- S. pricei
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
- MCZ 1669
- Type locality
- Santa Maria Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil