Elmisaurus Dinosaur is an extinct genus of dinosaur that belongs to the Theropoda family. It lived during the Late Jurassic period, around 156 million years ago. It was discovered in Russia in the Transbaikalia region. The most important fossil remains of Elmisaurus include a femur, partial vertebrae, and other skeletal pieces. Based on these bones, Elmisaurus is estimated to have been 3 to 4 meters in length, with a weight of approximately 270 kilograms. The genus name Elmisaurus comes from the Greek elmis, meaning "sea". The species name rarus means "rare". This is due to the rarity of the fossils, as only part of the skeleton was ever discovered.
Elmisaurus was an omnivorous dinosaur, meaning it ate both plants and small animals. It was a relatively primitive dinosaur, as evidenced by its three-toed foot and short hind legs. Its skull was broad and short, with small eyes and a pointed snout. Elmisaurus could walk on either two or four legs depending on the situation. It appears to have been a fast runner, as its front legs were longer than its back legs. Its tail was held off the ground, likely for balance.
Elmisaurus Facts :
| Name: | Elmisaurus Dinosaurs |
| Size: | 3-4 meters |
| Main Facts: | Elmisaurus was one of the few megalosaurid species to survive the Jurassic. This group would later diversify into larger, more powerful forms during the Early Cretaceous. |
Elmisaurus is classified as a megalosaurid dinosaur. Megalosaurids are a group of medium-sized carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. Other megalosaurids have been found in Africa, Europe and South America, indicating that they were widespread throughout the supercontinent Pangaea during the Late Jurassic. Elmisaurus seems to have been closely related to the large Jurassic theropod, Eustreptospondylus. Like many other dinosaur groups, the megalosaurids ultimately became extinct during the end of the Cretaceous.
Overall, Elmisaurus was an interesting and important dinosaur. Its discovery provided researchers with insights into the evolution of its megalosaurid relatives. For example, Elmisaurus demonstrated the presence of dinosaurs in the Transbaikalia region during the Late Jurassic, when most other theropods had become extinct.
