Mussaurus
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| iMussasaurus |
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Extinct (fossil)
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| Mussaurus | |
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| Translation | mouse lizard |
| Type | small long-necked dinosaur |
| Length | approx. 10 ft (3 m) |
| Height | approx. 3 ft (90 cm) |
| Weight | approx. 120 kg |
| Movement | quadruped/biped |
| Age | 205-190 million years ago |
| Diet | herbivore |
| Distribution | Argentina |
Mussaurus is an plant-eating dinosaur known from 18 to 37 cm-long (9 to 16 in) fossilized juvenile and infant skeletons, which are the smallest dinosaur skeletons known. Mussaurus is a very early dinosaur, dating from the Late Triassic Period about 215 million years ago. The infant skeleton was small, about the size of a small lizard.
The juveniles had short heads and necks, long tails, and large eye sockets. Adults had longer necks, and probably reached 3 m (10 ft) in length, and weighed 120 kg (260 lb).
Mussaurus is classified as a incertae sedis sauropodomorph dinosaur, and may be a prosauropod or an early sauropod. Coloradisaurus may be an adult Mussaurus.
[edit] References
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