Buriolestes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buriolestes |
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| The rock block holding the first Buriolestes fossil | |
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Buriolestes
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schultzi
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Buriolestes (say "Boo-ree-oh-LES-tees") means "Buriol's robber." It is an early type of dinosaur called a sauropodomorph. These dinosaurs later grew into the giant, long-necked plant-eaters. Buriolestes lived in what is now Brazil during the Late Triassic period. This was about 237 to 228 million years ago!
Only one species of this dinosaur is known: B. schultzi. Scientists officially named it in 2016. The very first fossil of Buriolestes was found next to another ancient animal. This was a small, lizard-like creature called Ixalerpeton. It was an early relative of dinosaurs.
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Meet Buriolestes: An Ancient Dinosaur!
Buriolestes was one of the earliest dinosaurs to walk the Earth. It gives us clues about how dinosaurs first evolved. This small dinosaur was an important discovery. It helps scientists understand the very beginning of the dinosaur family tree.
What Kind of Dinosaur Was It?
Buriolestes was a sauropodomorph. This group of dinosaurs includes some of the biggest animals ever. Think of huge dinosaurs like Brachiosaurus or Argentinosaurus. They were all sauropodomorphs.
However, Buriolestes was much smaller than its famous relatives. It was an early member of this group. It shows us what the ancestors of these giant plant-eaters looked like. Buriolestes likely ate both plants and meat. This is different from the later, huge sauropods that only ate plants.
Where Was Buriolestes Found?
Scientists found the fossil of Buriolestes in southern Brazil. This area is famous for its ancient rocks. These rocks hold many fossils from the Triassic period. The Triassic period was a time when the first dinosaurs appeared.
The discovery site is part of the Santa Maria Formation. This rock layer has given us many important fossils. It helps us learn about life on Earth millions of years ago. Finding Buriolestes in Brazil shows that early dinosaurs lived in South America.
How Big Was Buriolestes?
Buriolestes was a small dinosaur. It was probably only about 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. This is roughly the size of a human adult. It weighed about 7 kilograms (15 pounds). This makes it much smaller than the giant dinosaurs you might imagine.
Its small size is typical for early dinosaurs. Many of the first dinosaurs were not very big. They lived alongside other ancient reptiles. Over millions of years, some dinosaur groups grew much larger.
Why Is Buriolestes Important?
The discovery of Buriolestes is very important for science. It helps us understand how dinosaurs changed over time. Scientists can study its bones and teeth. This helps them figure out what it ate and how it moved.
Because it's an early sauropodomorph, Buriolestes shows us the first steps in the evolution of these dinosaurs. It helps fill in gaps in our knowledge. It also shows how different groups of dinosaurs are related to each other.
Images for kids
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A size comparison between an average human male and a Buriolestes schultzi specimen
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A diagram of the Buriolestes skull, with different bones shown in colors
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A close-up picture of the teeth from the first Buriolestes fossil
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An artist's drawing of what Buriolestes schultzi might have looked like
See also
In Spanish: Buriolestes schultzi para niños
