Herrerasaurus
Her-rare-rah-sore-us
Name meaning:Herrera's lizard
Time Period: Ladinian to early Carnian (Middle Triassic) 231.4–228.91 Mya
Locations: Argentina Ischigualasto Formation
Taxonomy:Reptilia-Dinosauria-Theropoda-Eusaurischia
Subspecies: H.ischigualastensis
Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~
Probably my favorite dinosaur, Herrerasaurus is one of the most primitive and basal theropods. Herrerasaurus had 5 digits on both its hands and feet. The hands' fourth and fifth fingers were incredibly small and only nubs without claws, likely in the process of evolving out. Meanwhile, the legs had two dewclaws, claws that hung off the side of the leg that served no purpose. Herrarasaurus was Mesopubic, meaning its pubis bone pointed downwards a trait that made its classification difficult as it was between the three main dinosaur clades: Theropoda, Sauropoda and Ornithischia. Ischisaurus and Frenguellisaurus are considered synonymous, and Gnathovorax, Staurikosaurus, and Sanjuansaurus are its closest relatives. It most likely ate basal mammals, dicynodonts, other small early dinosaurs, and vulnerable archosaurs.
History & Fossils ~ ~ ~ ~
Media Deptictions ~ ~ ~ ~
Jurassic Franchise Featured in the Telltale Jurassic Park game and Jurassic World Evolution in the Carnivore species pack alongside Acrocanthosaurus and Proceratosaurus. Jurassic World Evolution's Herrerasaurus is just brilliant to me, it’s a theropod that many of the later theropod animations were built upon. It nails the aspect of feeling primitive and basal. Its voice lets out a sort of wheezing sound and has a dry sort of hiss to its vocals; its patterns seem incoherent and messy.
The Isle The Isle’s Herrerasaurus is very reptilian with a throat patch similar to anoles and spikes along the back of the head like an Iguana, these adaptations resemble it’s gameplay role with Herrerasaurus being mostly arboreal resting in trees and jumping off to ambush unsuspecting prey. One of the most Unique and speculative designs and I am all for it.
