Guaibasaurus candelariensis

Guaibasaurus candelariensis was a dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic (Norian) Period. A saurischian of some sort, apparently more primitive than Herrerasaurus and Staurikosaurus. Remains of Guaibasaurus were discovered in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Two partially complete specimens have been attributed to Guaibasaurus, the first was described in 1999 both specimens lacked the discovery of a skull. Guaibasaurus had three full fingers and two vestigial ones on each hand, like Herrerasaurus. This animal may have grown to lengths of around 6.6 feet (2 metres). The reconstruction of the head is hypothetical as no skull has been found.

Name

Guaibasaurus candelariensis

Authority

Bonaparte, Ferigolo and Ribeiro,1999

Meaning of generic name

Guaiba lizard

[ok, but where or what is Guaiba? Guaíba is a city in Rio Grande do Sul]

Size

Length: 1.8 m

Remains

Holotype (MCN-PV 2355): partial skeleton

Age and Distribution

Caturrita Formation (Norian), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia

Further Reading

J. F. Bonaparte, J. Ferigolo, and A. M. Ribeiro. 1999. A new early Late Triassic saurischian dinosaur from Rio Grande do Sol state, Brazil. Y. Tomida, T. H. Rich, & P. Vickers-Rich (eds.), Proceedings of the Second Gondwanan Dinosaur Symposium, National Science Museum Monographs 15:89-109

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Guaibasaurus candelariensis: