Kotasaurus

Kotasaurus
Temporal range: Early Jurassic, 196.5–183 Ma
Mounted skeleton of Kotasaurus; based on the holotype
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: †Sauropodomorpha
Clade: †Sauropoda
Genus: †Kotasaurus
Yadagiri, 1988
Type species
†Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis
Yadagiri, 1988

Kotasaurus (/ˌkoʊtəˈsɔːrəs/ KOH-tə-SOR-əs; meaning "Kota Formation lizard") is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic period (Sinemurian–Pliensbachian[1]). The only known species is Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis. It was discovered in the Kota Formation of Telangana, India and shared its habitat with the related Barapasaurus. So far the remains of at least 12 individuals are known. The greater part of the skeleton is known, but the skull is missing, with the exception of two teeth.[2] Like some sauropods, it had a tail club that would have been used for intraspecific combat or interpspecific defense.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference bandyopadhyay_2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference yadagiri_2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference K2024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).