Unaysaurus

black water lizard

• unay · Tupi · black water (from Tupi 'una' black and 'y' water)
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines Tupi words for 'black water' with the Greek word for lizard. It refers to the area near São João do Polêsine in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where the fossils were found; the locality's name is linked to the Tupi-derived word for black water. It was named in 2004 by Leal and colleagues.

Named by

Leal et al.

Year named

2004

Period

Late Triassic

Stage

Norian

Found in

Caturrita Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

A early sauropodomorph (basal, 'prosauropod'-grade) dinosaur. The type species is Unaysaurus tolentinoi. The exact stage (Norian) is approximate and has been debated.