Aucasaurus

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Aucasaurus Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Saurischia Suborder: Theropoda Infraorder: Ceratosauria Family: Abelisauridae Subfamily: Carnotaurinae Tribe: Carnotaurini Genus: Aucasaurus
Binomial name
Aucasaurus garridoi Coria, Chiappe, Dingus, 2002

Aucasaurus was a medium-sized Argentinian theropod dinosaur of the Santonian stage. It was around 4 m (13 ft) long and 1 m (3 ft) high at the hip, weighing around 700 kg (1,500 lb); considerably smaller than the related Carnotaurus, although the arms were longer. It is the smallest known carnotaurine.

The type skeleton is complete to the thirteenth caudal vertebra, and so is relatively well understood, and is the most complete abelisaurid yet described. However, the skull is damaged, causing some paleontologists to speculate that it was involved in a fight shortly prior to death.

[edit] In popular culture

This dinosaur was also featured in the DVD Series Dinosaur Planet.

[edit] External links

• The Theropod Database on Aucasaurus
• Thescelosaurus! on Aucasaurus