Ekrixinatosaurus

Ekrixinatosaurus
Temporal range: Cenomanian
~98 Ma
Skeletal diagram
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Family: Abelisauridae
Clade: Brachyrostra
Genus: Ekrixinatosaurus
Calvo et al. 2004
Type species
Ekrixinatosaurus novasi
Calvo et al. 2004

Ekrixinatosaurus ('explosion-born reptile') is a genus of abelisaurid theropod which lived approximately 100 to 97 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. Its fossils have been found in Argentina. Only one species is currently recognized, Ekrixinatosaurus novasi, from which the specific name honors of Dr. Fernando Novas for his contributions to the study of abelisaurid theropods, while the genus name refers to the dynamiting of the holotype specimen. It was a large abelisaur, measuring between 6.5 and 8 m (21 and 26 ft) in length and weighing 800 kg (1,800 lb).