Achillesaurus

Achilles lizard

• Achilles · Greek (mythological name) · Achilles, the swift-footed Greek hero
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines Achilles, the swift-footed hero of Greek myth, with the Greek word for "lizard". It alludes to the animal's lightly built, probably fast-running body. The type species, A. manazzonei, honours Mr. Manazzone, who found the fossil.

Named by

Martinelli and Vera

Year named

2007

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Santonian

Found in

Bajo de la Carpa Formation, Río Negro Province, Argentina

A small alvarezsaurid theropod known from fragmentary remains. Some researchers have suggested it may be closely related or possibly synonymous with Alvarezsaurus, but it is generally treated as a separate genus. The exact reasoning for the name is given from memory and is moderately certain.