Back to dinosaur directory
Gasosaurus

Dinosaur profile

Gasosaurus

CarnivoreMid JurassicSmall Theropod

Pronunciation

Ga-so-sore-us

Meaning

Gas lizard

Type

Small Theropod

Length

3.5 - 4 meters long

Period

Mid Jurassic

Years

170-160 million years ago

Location

China

Diet

Carnivore

About Gasosaurus

Gasosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, about 156-151 million years ago. It was a medium-sized dinosaur, with an estimated length of about 26-30 feet and a weight of up to 1-2 tons. Gasosaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur, with a long, narrow skull and a mouth full of sharp, serrated teeth, which it likely used for hunting and eating small prey. It had long, slender legs with three toes, and long arms with three fingers, which ended in sharp claws. It had a long, flexible tail, which it likely used for balance and support while running on its two hind legs.

Gasosaurus is known from a single, well-preserved fossil specimen, which includes a partial skeleton and a complete skull. It was discovered in Sichuan Province, China, and is named after the Chinese province of Sichuan, where it was found. Gasosaurus is considered a basal member of the theropod group, and is thought to be closely related to other early members of this group such as Coppens spoof and Sinosauropteryx.

Gasosaurus is important because it is one of the few known dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic Period, and helps to shed light on the diversity of dinosaurs during this time. It is also significant because it is one of the few known dinosaurs from Sichuan Province, and helps to fill in gaps in our understanding of the distribution and habitats of dinosaurs in this region. Gasosaurus is also important because it is one of the few known dinosaurs from China, and helps to shed light on the evolution and diversity of dinosaurs in Asia.

Wikipedia image gallery

Extra reference images from Wikimedia projects. These are loaded live in your browser.

More Mid Jurassic profiles

Explore related dinosaurs with similar diet, type, period, or fossil location to Gasosaurus.

Browse all dinosaurs