TriassicCarnivoreMedium
Herrerasaurus
eh-RARE-ah-SORE-us
"Herrera's lizard"
Overview
Herrerasaurus was one of the earliest and most primitive dinosaurs, a predatory theropod from the dawn of the dinosaur era. It stalked the floodplains of Late Triassic South America long before dinosaurs came to dominate the globe.
Vital Statistics
Length
5 m
Height
1.5 m
Weight
350 kg
Est. Speed
30 km/h
Discovered
1963
Named by
Osvaldo Reig
Countries Discovered
Argentina
Fossil Locations
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap
📍 San Juan Province, Argentina
Interesting Facts
Herrerasaurus is one of the oldest known dinosaurs, living approximately 230 million years ago.
Its classification was debated for decades, as it predates the clear split of major dinosaur groups.
It had a hinged lower jaw, allowing it to grip struggling prey.
Herrerasaurus could grow up to 6 meters, making it a top predator of its time.
Closest Relatives
EoraptorStaurikosaurusCoelophysisEodromaeus