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sharp-clawed runner · Disputed
Cristatusaurus
Say it like this: “kris-TAY-tuh-SAWR-us”
Cristatusaurus lapparenti
Cristatusaurus ate meat and walked on two legs. It lived in the Early Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Niger.
- When
- Early Cretaceous (Aptian) · roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago
- Named in
- 1998 · Taquet, P.; Russell, D. A.
- Hip height
- Not established
- Length
- 10 m · 33 ft
- Weight
- 1–4 tonnes
- Found in
- Niger · Elrhaz
- Food and walking
- Carnivore · Two legs
- Kind
- sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
- Family branch
- Baryonychinae
The story in short
In 1998, P. Taquet and D. A. Russell published the name Cristatusaurus.
Fossils referred to Cristatusaurus date to the Early Cretaceous (Aptian), roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago. Finds come from Niger, including the Elrhaz Formation. It was a carnivore and walked on two legs.
Published estimates put Cristatusaurus at a length near 10 m and a body mass around 1–4 tonnes.
On the family tree it sits in Baryonychinae, among the theropod dinosaurs.
Close relatives
Baryonyx
Baryonyx walkeri
Early Cretaceous (Barremian) · roughly 125.8 to 121.4 million years ago
Ceratosuchops
Ceratosuchops inferodios
Early Cretaceous (Barremian) · roughly 125.8 to 121.4 million years ago
Protathlitis
Protathlitis cinctorrensis
Early Cretaceous (Barremian) · roughly 125.8 to 121.4 million years ago