Encyclopedia
Elaphrosaurus
uncommon

Elaphrosaurus

Elaphrosaurus bambergi

Era: JurassicDiet: CarnivorousPeriod: Late JurassicSize: 6.2m

Elaphrosaurus is a genus of ceratosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 155 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Period in what is now Tanzania in Africa. Elaphrosaurus was a medium-sized but lightly built member of the group that could grow up to 6.2 m (20 ft) long. Morphologically, this dinosaur is significant in two ways. Firstly, it has a relatively long body but is very shallow-chested for a theropod of its size. Secondly, it has very short hindlimbs in comparison with its body. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that this genus is likely a ceratosaur. Earlier suggestions that it is a late surviving coelophysoid have been examined but generally dismissed