Nyasasaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nyasasaurus |
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| Approximation of animal based on partial skeleton shown in black (first specimen, six vertebrae and a humerus) and blue (second specimen, three cervical vertebrae). | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauriformes |
| Genus: | †Nyasasaurus Nesbitt et al., 2013 |
| Type species | |
| †Nyasasaurus parringtoni Nesbitt et al., 2013
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Nyasasaurus (pronounced Nee-ah-suh-SORE-us) was a small, fast-growing reptile that lived 243 million years ago during the Triassic period—long before giants like T. rex or Stegosaurus roamed Earth! Scientists debate whether it was a true dinosaur or just a very close cousin, but either way, it’s a superstar for understanding how dinosaurs evolved.
Quick facts
- Size: About as long as a bike (6.5–10 feet, including its tail) and as tall as a 3-year-old kid at the hip (1 meter).
- Weight: Like a big dog (45–135 pounds).
- Special Features: A long tail, sharp teeth, and possibly walked on two legs.
Where Did It Live?
Nyasasaurus fossils were found in Tanzania, Africa, near Lake Nyasa (now Lake Malawi). But back then, Earth looked totally different! All continents were squished together in a supercontinent called Pangaea. Tanzania was part of the southern half, which included Africa, South America, and Antarctica.
Why Is Nyasasaurus Special?
1. Oldest Dinosaur Candidate
- It lived 10–15 million years earlier than other early dinosaurs like Eoraptor.
- Its bones show rapid growth, like birds and mammals—a key dinosaur trait.
2. Missing Link
- Its arm bone has a deltopectoral crest (a bump for strong muscles), just like later dinosaurs.
- Scientists call it a transitional fossil —a bridge between reptiles and true dinosaurs.
3. Southern Origins
- Its discovery in Africa supports the idea that dinosaurs first evolved in the southern part of Pangaea.
Fun Facts for Kids
- Name Meaning: "Nyasa" = Lake Nyasa, "saurus" = lizard. The full name honors fossil collector Rex Parrington.
- Fossils were dug up in the 1930s but weren’t studied properly until 2012!
- It might have been an omnivore—eating plants and small animals.
- Some scientists think it could have had fuzzy feathers, but we need more fossils to know for sure.
See also
In Spanish: Nyasasaurus parringtoni para niños
