Megapnosaurus
Megapnosaurus was a small, fast meat-eating dinosaur that lived in Africa and other places during the Early Jurassic. It had long legs like a bird and may have hunted in packs to catch its prey.1
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Fun facts
Megapnosaurus was one of the first dinosaurs ever shown with feathers in pictures, even though no one has found actual feathers with its fossils.1
At least 30 Megapnosaurus skeletons were found together in Zimbabwe, which suggests they might have lived or hunted in groups.1
Its name changed over time: first it was called Syntarsus, but that name was already used for a beetle, so scientists gave it a new name in 2001.1
Megapnosaurus had an S-shaped neck and long hind legs that looked like the legs of a secretary bird.1
Its hands had four fingers, which is more than most later meat-eating dinosaurs had.1
Some scientists think Megapnosaurus might actually belong to the genus Coelophysis, but most recent studies say it is its own genus.1
Most asked questions about Megapnosaurus
?How big was Megapnosaurus?
Megapnosaurus grew up to about 2.2 metres (7.2 feet) long and weighed up to 13 kilograms (29 pounds).1
?What did Megapnosaurus eat?
Megapnosaurus was a carnivore, meaning it ate meat. It may have hunted in packs and preyed on early plant-eating dinosaurs and lizards.1
?When did Megapnosaurus live?
Megapnosaurus lived during the Early Jurassic Period, about 199 to 188 million years ago.1
?Where was Megapnosaurus found?
Fossils of Megapnosaurus were found in Zimbabwe and South Africa in Africa.1
?Did Megapnosaurus have feathers?
Nobody knows for sure. It was one of the first dinosaurs shown with feathers in pictures, but no actual feathers have been found with its fossils.1
?Why is it called Megapnosaurus?
Megapnosaurus means 'big dead lizard' in Greek. It got this name after its first name, Syntarsus, was already used for a beetle.1
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For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Megapnosaurus
- Named by
- Ivie et al. 20012
- Group
- Meat-eating dinos
- Family / clade
- Coelophysidae2
- Classification
- Theropoda > Coelophysoidea2
- Age of the rocks
- 201 to 193 million years (Hettangian / Sinemurian)2
- Rock formations
- Forest Sandstone, Nyamandhlovu Sandstones, Elliot2
- Countries
- Zimbabwe, South Africa, China, USA2
- Fossil records
- 8 in the Paleobiology Database2
- Discovery
- The first fossils were found in 1963 by students in Zimbabwe. Scientist Michael Raath named it Syntarsus rhodesiensis in 1969, and later it was renamed Megapnosaurus in 2001.1
- Still debated
- Scientists still debate whether Megapnosaurus should be its own genus or just a species of Coelophysis.1
Where the facts come from
- Megapnosaurus (en.wikipedia.org)
- Megapnosaurus in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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