Aniksosaurus

Say it like this: “ah-NIK-so-SOR-us”

Aniksosaurus darwini

Aniksosaurus ate meat and walked on two legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Argentina.

Quiz me on Aniksosaurus

When: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian · Turonian) · roughly 100.5 to 89.8 million years ago
Named in: 2006 · Martínez, R.; Novas, F.
Hip height: 0.7 m · 2 ft
Length: 2–3 m · 7–10 ft
Weight: 35–65 kg · 77–143 lb
Found in: Argentina · Bajo Barreal
Food and walking: Carnivore · Two legs
Kind: sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
Family branch: Coelurosauria

The story in short

Aniksosaurus was formally named in 2006 by R. Martínez and F. Novas. The name means “spring lizard.”

Fossils referred to Aniksosaurus date to the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian · Turonian), roughly 100.5 to 89.8 million years ago. Finds come from Argentina, including the Bajo Barreal Formation. It was a carnivore and walked on two legs.

Published estimates put Aniksosaurus at a length near 2–3 m, hips about 0.7 m high, and a body mass around 35–65 kg.

On the family tree it sits in Coelurosauria, among the theropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Aratasaurus

Aratasaurus museunacionali

Early Cretaceous (Albian) · roughly 113.2 to 100.5 million years ago

Bicentenaria

Bicentenaria argentina

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) · roughly 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago

Calamospondylus

Calamospondylus oweni

Early Cretaceous (Barremian) · roughly 125.8 to 121.4 million years ago