Open Paleo

Masiakasaurus

Sampson et al., 2001 mah-SHEE-ah-kah-SAWR-us

From Malagasy 'masiaka' meaning 'vicious' and Greek 'sauros' meaning 'lizard'; translates as 'vicious lizard'.

72.2–66.0 million years ago Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Masiakasaurus is a genus of small predatory theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. In Malagasy, masiaka means "vicious"; thus, the genus name means "vicious lizard". The type species, Masiakasaurus knopfleri, was named after the musician Mark Knopfler, whose music inspired the expedition crew. It was named in 2001 by Scott D. Sampson, Matthew Carrano, and Catherine A. Forster. Unlike most theropods, the front teeth of Masiakasaurus projected forwards instead of straight down. This unique dentition suggests that they had a specialized diet, perhaps including fish and other small prey. Other bones of the skeleton indicate that Masiakasaurus were bipedal, with much shorter forelimbs than hindlimbs. It was a small theropod, reaching 1.8-2.1 m (5.9-6.9 ft) long and weighing 20 kg (44 lb). Masiakasaurus lived from 72.1 to 66 million years ago, along with animals such as Majungasaurus, Rapetosaurus, and Rahonavis. Masiakasaurus was a member of the group Noasauridae, small predatory ceratosaurs found primarily in South America.

Diagnosis

  1. Four dentary teeth most rostral in position are procumbent, with first tooth set in large ventrally expanded alveolus oriented almost horizontally
  2. Strongly heterodont lower dentition with first four teeth elongate and weakly serrated, with labiolingually positioned carinae and caudally hooked apex
  3. Lower posterior teeth increasingly recurved and transversely compressed with mesiodistally positioned carinae, contrasting markedly with anterior dentition
  4. Specialized dentary with greatly emarginated caudal end indicating enlarged intramandibular fenestra

Species

Masiakasaurus knopfleri Sampson et al., 2001

Type species

Named for Mark Knopfler, the guitarist and singer-songwriter of Dire Straits, whose music inspired and accompanied the expedition crew during fieldwork in Madagascar.

Holotype
UA 8680 , Universite d’Antananarivo
Material
Well-preserved right dentary with several teeth.
Horizon
Anembalemba Member, Maevarano Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 72.2–66.0 million years ago
Locality
MAD 93-18, Mahajanga, Madagascar

References

  1. Sampson, S. D.; Carrano, M. T.; Forster, C. A. (2001). A bizarre predatory dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Nature 409(6819): 504-506. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/35054046

    Gives the holotype's locality as MAD 93-18, in the Anembalemba Member.

    sampson2001a
  2. Paul, G. S. (2024). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (3rd ed.). Princeton University Press.

    Source of the appearance features.

    paul2024a