Geranosaurus Temporal range:
Early Jurassic, ~
| |
---|---|
Holotype jaw | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | † Ornithischia |
Family: | † Heterodontosauridae |
Genus: | †
Geranosaurus Broom, 1911 |
Type species | |
†Geranosaurus atavus Broom, 1911
|
Geranosaurus (meaning "crane reptile") is a genus of ornithischian dinosaur from the Early Jurassic. It is known only from crushed fragments of the skull, a single jaw bone with nine tooth stubs and limb elements discovered in the Clarens Formation, South Africa in 1871. Because of the limited remains, it is considered a nomen dubium. It is classified as an ornithischian based on the jaw, probably a heterodontosaurid. [1] It was around 0.6 metres (2.0 ft) tall and around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) long when fully grown. [1] [2]
The type species, G. atavus, was described by Robert Broom in 1911. [2] The genus name is derived from Greek geranos, "crane", a reference to the crane-like hind-limb. The specific name means "ancestor" in Latin. The limb elements have inventory number SAM 1871. [2]