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Fun facts
Zupaysaurus had a kink in its snout, between the premaxillary and maxillary bones of the upper jaw, similar to some other early theropods.1
It is estimated that Zupaysaurus had about 24 teeth and a hinge in its lower jaw.1
The skull of Zupaysaurus was about 450 mm (18 inches) long, which suggests a body length of about 4 meters (13 feet).1
Zupaysaurus lived alongside early sauropodomorph dinosaurs like Riojasaurus, Coloradisaurus, and Lessemsaurus in the same environment.1
The Los Colorados Formation, where Zupaysaurus was found, was an ancient floodplain and is one of the earliest known faunal assemblages dominated by dinosaurs.1
Zupaysaurus is considered one of the oldest records of Tetanurae, a group of theropods, though scientists debate its exact classification.2
Most asked questions about Zupaysaurus
?How big was Zupaysaurus?
About 4 metres (13 feet) long, though some estimates range up to 6 metres (20 feet) and 250 kg (550 lbs).1
?Did Zupaysaurus have crests?
Scientists disagree. It was first described with two thin crests on its skull, but a later study argued those were misplaced bones and it probably had low ridges instead.1
?What did Zupaysaurus eat?
It was a meat-eater that caught prey with its sharp teeth.1
?When did Zupaysaurus live?
It lived during the Late Triassic, about 213 million years ago.1
?Where was Zupaysaurus found?
In Argentina, in the Los Colorados Formation of La Rioja province.1
?Is Zupaysaurus a dinosaur?
Yes, it is a theropod dinosaur.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Zupaysaurus had two tall, thin crests on its skull, like Dilophosaurus.
Truth: A later study argued that the 'crests' are actually misplaced bones, and Zupaysaurus probably had low ridges along the edge of its snout instead.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Zupaysaurus
- Named by
- Arcucci and Coria 20033
- Group
- Meat-eating dinos
- Family / clade
- Neotheropoda3
- Classification
- Theropoda3
- Age of the rocks
- 227 to 206 million years (Norian)3
- Rock formations
- Los Colorados3
- Countries
- Argentina3
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database3
- Discovery
- Zupaysaurus was discovered in May 1997 by Santiago Reuil, part of a crew led by Guillermo Rougier. It was described by Andrea Arcucci and Rodolfo Coria in 2003.1
- Still debated
- Scientists debate where Zupaysaurus fits in the theropod family tree. Some think it is a coelophysoid, others place it with Dilophosaurus, and some see it as a sister to a larger group.1
Where the facts come from
- Zupaysaurus (en.wikipedia.org)
- A new Triassic carnivorous dinosaur from Argentina | Ameghiniana (ameghiniana.org.ar)
- Zupaysaurus in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are dino fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
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