Velocisaurus

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Velocisaurus
Fossil range: Late Cretaceous

Extinct (fossil)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Theropoda
Infraorder:	Ceratosauria
Superfamily:	Abelisauroidea
Family:	Noasauridae
Genus:	Velocisaurus
Species:	V. unicus

Binomial name

Velocisaurus unicus
Bonaparte, 1991

Velocisaurus ("swift lizard") was a ceratosaurian dinosaur species from the Cretaceous Period of Argentina. Known only from hind limb bones, it was probably around 4 feet long. 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.

[edit] 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.