Tarascosaurus

Tarasque lizard

• Tarasco- · French/Provençal · the Tarasque, a legendary dragon-like monster of Provence
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name refers to the Tarasque, a legendary dragon-like monster from Provençal folklore associated with the town of Tarascon in southern France. It was chosen because the fossils come from Provence. The type species, T. salluvicus, is named after the Salluvii (Salyes), an ancient Celto-Ligurian people of the region.

Named by

Le Loeuff and Buffetaut

Year named

1991

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Vitrolles area, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence, France

A theropod known from fragmentary remains (vertebrae, pelvic and limb material). It is usually placed among the abelisauroids (possibly a noasaurid or other basal abelisauroid), but its classification is uncertain and some authors regard it as poorly diagnosed or doubtful. Stage range and exact placement should be checked against a specialist source.