Rahiolisaurus
Encyclopedia
Rahiolisaurus is a genus
of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur
which existed in India
during the Late Cretaceous
period. It was described in 2010
, based on fossils recovered from the Lameta Formation
in the Indian state of Gujarat. These fossils include elements from at least seven different individuals and are believed to have been from the Maastrichtian
stage, sometime between 65.5 and 70.6 million years ago. Despite representing a variety of different growth stages, all recovered fossils from the locality indicate a single type species
, Rahiolisaurus gujaratensis.
Rahiolisaurus is described as a large-sized abelisaurid and was likely around 8 m (26 ft) long. It shares many similarities with another Indian abelisaurid, Rajasaurus
, but includes differences such as an overall more gracile and slender-limbed form.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
which existed in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
period. It was described in 2010
2010 in paleontology
-Anomalocaridids:-Newly named crustaceans:-Newly named insects:* A new family, Cascopleciidae, is published by Poinar Jr.* A new family of ceraphronoid Hymenopters, Radiophronidae, is published by Ortega-Blanco, Rasnitsyn, and Delclòs....
, based on fossils recovered from the Lameta Formation
Lameta Formation
The Lameta Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, India. It is of Maastrichtian age , and is notable for its dinosaur fossils...
in the Indian state of Gujarat. These fossils include elements from at least seven different individuals and are believed to have been from the Maastrichtian
Maastrichtian
The Maastrichtian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the latest age or upper stage of the Late Cretaceous epoch or Upper Cretaceous series, the Cretaceous period or system, and of the Mesozoic era or erathem. It spanned from 70.6 ± 0.6 Ma to 65.5 ± 0.3 Ma...
stage, sometime between 65.5 and 70.6 million years ago. Despite representing a variety of different growth stages, all recovered fossils from the locality indicate a single type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, Rahiolisaurus gujaratensis.
Rahiolisaurus is described as a large-sized abelisaurid and was likely around 8 m (26 ft) long. It shares many similarities with another Indian abelisaurid, Rajasaurus
Rajasaurus
Rajasaurus is a genus of carnivorous abelisaurian theropod dinosaur with an unusual head crest. Between 1982 and 1984, its fossilized bones were discovered by Suresh Srivastava of the Geological Survey of India...
, but includes differences such as an overall more gracile and slender-limbed form.