Thecodontosaurus

Thecodontosaurus
Temporal range: Rhaetian
~203.6–201.3 Ma
Skeletal restoration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Sauropodomorpha
Family: Thecodontosauridae
Genus: Thecodontosaurus
Riley & Stutchbury, 1836
Type species
Thecodontosaurus antiquus
Morris, 1843
Synonyms[1]

Thecodontosaurus ("socket-tooth lizard") is a genus of herbivorous basal sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the late Triassic period (Rhaetian age).

Its remains are known mostly from Triassic "fissure fillings" in South England. Thecodontosaurus was a small bipedal animal, about 2 m (6.5 ft) long. It is one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered and is one of the oldest that existed. Many species have been named in the genus, but only the type species Thecodontosaurus antiquus is seen as valid today.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference bentonetal2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).