Staurikosaurus

Southern Cross lizard

• Stauriko- · Greek · of the cross (from Greek 'stauros', cross; refers to the Southern Cross constellation, Crux)
• -saurus · Greek · lizard

The name means "Southern Cross lizard". It combines the Greek word stauros ("cross") with sauros ("lizard"), and refers to the Southern Cross constellation, which is visible in the Southern Hemisphere skies over Brazil where the fossil was found. The type species is Staurikosaurus pricei, named in honour of paleontologist Llewellyn Ivor Price.

Named by

Colbert

Year named

1970

Period

Late Triassic

Stage

Carnian

Found in

Santa Maria Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

One of the earliest known dinosaurs, a small bipedal carnivore. It is usually regarded as an early saurischian, often considered a herrerasaurid or close relative of the herrerasaurids.