Open Paleo

Mbiresaurus

Griffin et al., 2022 em-BI-yuh-SOR-us

Named for the Mbire District of Zimbabwe where the holotype was found, combined with Latin 'sauros' meaning 'reptile'.

237.0–227.3 million years ago Carnian, Late Triassic
Late Triassic stages

Mbiresaurus is an extinct genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian) Pebbly Arkose Formation of Zimbabwe. The genus contains a single species, Mbiresaurus raathi, known from a nearly complete skeleton. Mbiresaurus represents one of Africa's earliest known definitive dinosaurs.

Diagnosis

  1. Frontal more than twice as anteroposteriorly long as mediolaterally wide
  2. Postacetabular process of ilium anteroposteriorly short, dorsoventrally broad with well-developed brevis shelf (autapomorphy)
  3. Olecranon process unfused to ulna late in ontogeny (potential autapomorphy)
  4. Deltopectoral crest of humerus extends anteriorly at ~90° angle from long axis of humeral head
  5. Width of distal humerus less than one-third proximodistal length
  6. Slightly recurved dentary teeth with mesial and distal carinae and small denticles

Species

Mbiresaurus raathi Griffin et al., 2022

Type species

Named for Michael Raath, one of the discoverers of the fossils and a significant contributor to Zimbabwean paleontology.

Holotype
NHMZ 2222 , Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe
Material
Nearly complete skeleton with partial cranium, cervical to caudal vertebrae, rib fragments, partial pectoral and pelvic girdles, partial forelimbs and hindlimbs.
Horizon
middle Pebbly Arkose Formation, Carnian, Late Triassic , 237.0–227.3 million years ago
Locality
Dande Communal Land, Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe

References

  1. Griffin, C. T.; Wynd, B. M.; Munyikwa, D.; Broderick, T. J.; Zondo, M.; Tolan, S.; Langer, M. C.; Nesbitt, S. J.; Taruvinga, H. R. (2022). Africa's oldest dinosaurs reveal early suppression of dinosaur distribution. Nature 609(7926): 313-319. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05133-x griffin2022a
  2. Paul, G. S. (2024). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (3rd ed.). Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length and mass estimates.

    paul2024a
  3. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the hip height estimate.

    jones2026b