Gojirasaurus

Godzilla lizard

• Gojira · Japanese · Godzilla, the movie monster
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines "Gojira", the Japanese name of the movie monster Godzilla, with the Greek "sauros" (lizard). It was chosen because this was one of the largest known meat-eating dinosaurs of the Triassic, so the name evokes a giant monster. The species name, quayi, refers to Quay County, New Mexico, where it was found.

Named by

Carpenter

Year named

1997

Period

Late Triassic

Stage

Norian

Found in

Bull Canyon Formation, New Mexico, USA

A large early theropod, usually regarded as a coelophysoid. It is known from fragmentary remains, and some researchers consider it of doubtful validity (possible nomen dubium). The type species is Gojirasaurus quayi.