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Aucasaurus

Dinosaur profile

Aucasaurus

CarnivoreLate CretaceousLarge Theropod

Pronunciation

Aw-cah-sore-us

Meaning

Auca lizard

Type

Large Theropod

Length

5 meters long

Period

Late Cretaceous

Years

84-71 million years ago

Location

Argentina

Diet

Carnivore

About Aucasaurus

Aucasaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 72-66 million years ago. It was a medium to large-sized carnivore, with an estimated length of about 23-30 feet and a weight of about 1000-1500 pounds. Aucasaurus had a long, slender neck and a small head with sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles. It also had long, slender legs and a long, heavy tail, which it may have used for balance while running. Its body was probably covered in a layer of tough, scaly skin.

Aucasaurus was discovered in Argentina in the 1980s, and was named by paleontologists in 1991. It is considered a member of the allosauroid group of theropods, which also includes species such as Allosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus. Aucasaurus is known from a number of well-preserved fossil specimens, including several partial skeletons and skulls, which have helped paleontologists learn more about the anatomy and behavior of this dinosaur. It is thought to be closely related to other allosauroids such as Mapusaurus and Giganotosaurus.

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