LegendaryNyasasaurus
Nyasasaurus parringtoni
ny-AS-ah-SORE-us· “Lake Nyasa lizard”
🕰️ Triassic🍽️ omnivore🦴 Dinosauriformes
2.5 m
Length
0.8 m
Height
40 kg
Weight
Possibly the earliest known dinosaur — or its closest cousin — from the Middle Triassic of Tanzania. Living around 245 million years ago, it pushes the dawn of the dinosaurs back by millions of years.
When
Middle Triassic, ~245 million years ago
Found in
Tanzania
Discovered
Sterling Nesbitt, 2012
Did you know?
- It may be the oldest known dinosaur, living about 245 million years ago.
- It is named after Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi), near where its bones were found in Tanzania.
- Its fossils sat in a museum drawer for roughly 80 years before being identified in 2012.
Artwork: TotalDino, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.