Torvosaurus

savage lizard

• torvus · Latin · savage, grim, wild
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines the Latin "torvus", meaning savage or grim, with the Greek "sauros", meaning lizard. It was chosen to reflect the animal's nature as a large, powerful predator with robust build and big, blade-like teeth. It means "savage lizard".

Named by

Galton and Jensen

Year named

1979

Period

Late Jurassic

Stages

Kimmeridgian – Tithonian

Found in

Morrison Formation, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, USA; also Lourinhã Formation, Portugal

A large megalosaurid theropod. The type species is Torvosaurus tanneri; a second species, T. gurneyi, was named from Portugal in 2014. Dinosaur, valid genus.