Malawisaurus

Say it like this: “mah-LAH-wee-SAWR-us”

Malawisaurus dixeyi

Malawisaurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Early Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Malawi.

Quiz me on Malawisaurus

When: Early Cretaceous (Aptian) · roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago
Named in: 1993 · Jacobs, L. L.; Winkler, D. A.; Downs, W. R.; Gomani, E. M.
Hip height: 2 m · 7 ft
Length: 11–15 m · 36–49 ft
Weight: 2.8–10 tonnes
Found in: Malawi · Dinosaur Beds
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: long-neck giant · Sauropod
Family branch: Lithostrotia

The story in short

Malawisaurus was formally named in 1993 by L. L. Jacobs and colleagues. The name honors a person tied to the fossil or its study.

Fossils referred to Malawisaurus date to the Early Cretaceous (Aptian), roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago. Finds come from Malawi, including the Dinosaur Beds. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Malawisaurus at a length near 11–15 m, hips about 2 m high, and a body mass around 2.8–10 tonnes.

On the family tree it sits in Lithostrotia, among the sauropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Atacamatitan

Atacamatitan chilensis

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Maastrichtian) · roughly 100.5 to 66 million years ago

Dreadnoughtus

Dreadnoughtus schrani

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Elaltitan

Elaltitan lilloi

Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) · roughly 89.8 to 85.7 million years ago