Leyesaurus

Leyes' lizard

• Leyes · Spanish (surname) · surname of the person honoured
• sauros · Greek · lizard

Leyesaurus is a long-necked, early sauropodomorph from Argentina. The first part of the name honours a person surnamed Leyes, and the second part is the Greek word for lizard. The only known species is Leyesaurus marayensis, and its species name refers to the Marayes area where it was found. I'm not certain who Leyes was, so I haven't said.

Named by

Apaldetti et al.

Year named

2011

Period

Late Triassic

Found in

Quebrada del Barro Formation, San Juan Province, Argentina

Valid genus. It is an early-diverging sauropodomorph, usually placed near the massospondylids or in a related group. Its exact position and its exact geologic age are debated, so I haven't given stages.