Xenotarsosaurus

strange ankle lizard

• xenos · Greek · strange
• tarsos · Greek · ankle (tarsus)
• sauros · Greek · lizard

The name combines Greek words meaning "strange", "ankle" and "lizard". It refers to the unusual ankle region of the original specimen. In particular, the astragalus and calcaneum are fused to each other and to the tibia. The type species is X. bonapartei, named for the Argentine paleontologist José Bonaparte.

Named by

Martínez et al.

Year named

1986

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Turonian

Found in

Bajo Barreal Formation, Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina

A medium-sized abelisaurid theropod, known from fragmentary remains. The exact age of the Bajo Barreal Formation is debated, so the stage given is approximate.