Megapnosaurus

Megapnosaurus (meaning "big dead lizard", from Greek μεγα = "big", 'απνοος = "not breathing", "dead", σαυρος = "lizard") is an extinct genus of coelophysid theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 188 million years ago during the early part of the Jurassic Period in what is now Africa. The species was a small to medium-sized, lightly built, ground-dwelling, bipedal carnivore, that could grow up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft) long and weigh up to 13 kg (29 lb). It was originally given the genus name Syntarsus, but that name was later determined to be preoccupied by a beetle. The species was subsequently given a new genus name, Megapnosaurus, by Ivie, Ślipiński & Węgrzynowicz in 2001. Some studies have classified it as a species within the genus Coelophysis, but this interpretation has been challenged by more subsequent studies and the genus Megapnosaurus is now considered valid.

Megapnosaurus
Temporal range: Early Jurassic,
Life restoration
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Family: Coelophysidae
Genus: Megapnosaurus
Ivie et al., 2001
Type species
Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis
(Raath, 1969) Ivie et al., 2001
Synonyms
  • Syntarsus rhodesiensis Raath, 1969 (preoccupied)
  • Coelophysis rhodesiensis (Raath, 1969) Paul, 1988
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