Velocisaurus

Taxobox
name = "Velocisaurus"
fossil_range = Late Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
ordo = Saurischia
subordo = Theropoda
infraordo = Ceratosauria
superfamilia = Abelisauroidea
familia = Noasauridae
genus = "Velocisaurus"
genus_authority = Bonaparte, 1991
subdivision_ranks=Species
subdivision=
*"V. unicus" Bonaparte, 1991 (type)

"Velocisaurus" ("swift lizard") is a genus of ceratosaurian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period of Argentina. Known only from hind limb bones, it was probably around 1.2 meters long (4 ft). What is known of the hind leg and foot show adaptations for running, giving "Velocisaurus" its name. A study of theropod relationships by Novas and Apesteguia (2003) showed that "Velocisaurus" was a close relative of the strange ceratosaur "Masiakasaurus". These two may form a subfamily of noasaurids, the Velocisaurinae.

References

*Bonaparte (1991). The fossil vertebrates of the Rio Colorado Formation, of the city of Neuquen and surroundings, Upper Cretaceous, Argentina. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ``Bernardino Rivadavia" e Instituto Nacional de las Ciencias Naturales. Paleontología 4 p. 17-123.
*F. AGNOLÍN, F. NOVAS and S. APESTEGUÍA (2003). Velocisaurids in South America and Madagascar (Ameghiniana 40(4): 77R). Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘B. Rivadavia’, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, (1405) Buenos Aires, Argentina.

External links

* [http://dino.lm.com/images/display.php?id=1507 An image of "Velocisaurus" from The Dinosauricon]