Chindesaurus
Carnivore·Late Triassic·Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA·Bipedal
Chindesaurus is an extinct genus of basal saurischian dinosaur that lived in the southwestern United States during the Late Triassic period. Known primarily from a partial skeleton discovered in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, this bipedal carnivore was roughly the size of a wolf. Its exact classification has been a subject of debate among paleontologists, with various studies suggesting it was a herrerasaurid, a basal saurischian, or a theropod closely related to Tawa.
Key Facts
- ›Lived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 213-210 million years ago.
- ›Known for the holotype specimen nicknamed "Gertie", discovered in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.
- ›Was a bipedal carnivore, estimated to be about the size of a wolf.
- ›Its classification is debated, with proposed affinities including herrerasaurid, basal saurischian, and theropod.
- ›Fossil material has been found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
- ›The generic name "Chindesaurus" means "Chinde lizard", referencing the original discovery site and the Greek word for lizard.
- Bipedal
- Carnivorous
- Estimated length of 2-4 meters
- Estimated weight comparable to a wolf
- Possessed a stout body, long legs, and a fairly long neck
- Vertebrae with features like low keels, shallow depressions, and "spine-tables"
- Hip bones include fragments of the ilium, pubis, and ischium
- Hindlimb bones include a complete femur, parts of the tibia, and an ankle bone
Tawa, Herrerasaurus, Daemonosaurus, Caseosaurus
United States
About Chindesaurus
Chindesaurus is an extinct genus of basal saurischian dinosaur that roamed the southwestern United States during the Late Triassic period, approximately 213 to 210 million years ago. The most significant fossil material attributed to this genus is a partial skeleton discovered in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, which was famously nicknamed "Gertie." This specimen provided the basis for the binomial name Chindesaurus bryansmalli, described in 1995 by R.A. Long and P.A. Murry.
Physical Characteristics and Classification
Chindesaurus was a bipedal carnivore, comparable in size to a wolf, with estimated lengths ranging from 2 to 4 meters. Its skeletal anatomy includes distinct features in its vertebrae, such as "spine-tables" found in some theropods, and a femur with a sigmoid shape and a prominent anterior trochanter. The exact classification of Chindesaurus has been a subject of ongoing scientific debate. Early interpretations suggested it was a "prosauropod" (basal sauropodomorph), while later studies proposed it was a herrerasaurid or a basal saurischian. More recent research, including a 2019 redescription of the holotype, places Chindesaurus as a theropod closely related to Tawa, forming a clade at the base of Theropoda.
Discovery and Paleoecology
The holotype specimen, PEFO 10395, was discovered in 1984 and airlifted out of Petrified Forest National Park in 1985, generating considerable publicity. While this specimen is considered the most definitive example of Chindesaurus, other fragmentary fossils from Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas have been referred to the genus, though their attribution is sometimes questioned. The paleoenvironment where Chindesaurus lived was an ancient floodplain within the Chinle Formation, shared with other tetrapods like phytosaurs and rauisuchids, as well as lungfish and clams.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Chindesaurus live?
Chindesaurus lived during the Late Triassic period, specifically between 213 and 210 million years ago. This places it among some of the earliest known dinosaurs.
Where were Chindesaurus fossils found?
The primary fossil specimen of Chindesaurus was discovered in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Other fragmentary specimens have been found in Late Triassic sediments across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the southwestern United States.
What did Chindesaurus look like?
Chindesaurus was a bipedal carnivore that was approximately as large as a wolf. Reconstructions suggest it had a stout body, long legs, and a fairly long neck, with estimated lengths ranging from 2 to 4 meters.
What is the scientific classification of Chindesaurus?
The classification of Chindesaurus is debated. It has been interpreted as a herrerasaurid, a basal saurischian, or a theropod closely related to other early dinosaurs like Tawa. These differing views highlight the complex evolutionary relationships of early dinosaurs.
What is the meaning of the name Chindesaurus?
The genus name Chindesaurus combines "Chinde Point", the location near its discovery site, with the Greek word "sauros", meaning lizard. The specific name, bryansmalli, honors Bryan Small, the discoverer of the holotype specimen.
Related Dinosaur species
Camposaurus
Camposaurus is a small, carnivorous theropod dinosaur from the Late Triassic period of North America, specifically the Norian stage. It is widely considered to be one of the oldest known neotheropod dinosaurs, with its fossil remains discovered in Arizona.
Coelophysis
Coelophysis is a small, slender, bipedal carnivore that lived during the late Triassic period, approximately 215 to 201.4 million years ago. It is one of the earliest known dinosaur genera, with extensive fossil discoveries primarily from the southwestern United States. Its hollow bone structure inspired its name, meaning "hollow form."
Daemonosaurus
Daemonosaurus is an extinct genus of dinosaur from the Late Triassic period, known from a single skull and neck fossil discovered in New Mexico. It possessed an unusual short skull with large, fang-like teeth, and its exact placement within dinosaur phylogeny is debated, possibly representing a basal theropod or basal saurischian.