Pulanesaura

rain lizard

• pulane · Sesotho · rain (a diminutive form of 'pula', rain)
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines the Sesotho word for rain (pula, here in the form 'pulane') with the Greek 'sauros', meaning lizard, giving roughly 'rain lizard'. The Sesotho element honours the local language of the region where the fossils were found in South Africa. The only named species is Pulanesaura eocollum.

Named by

McPhee et al.

Year named

2015

Period

Early Jurassic

Found in

Upper Elliot Formation, Free State, South Africa

A sauropodomorph (an early relative of the giant sauropods) known from partial remains. It is notable for showing sauropod-like teeth and a feeding apparatus at an early date. The exact wording of the Sesotho meaning and the precise stages are not given here because I am not certain of them.