Open Paleo

Narindasaurus

Royo-Torres et al., 2020

Named after Narinda Bay in northwestern Madagascar, where its fossils were collected, combined with Greek 'sauros' (lizard); meaning 'Narinda Bay lizard'.

168.2–165.3 million years ago Bathonian, Middle Jurassic
Middle Jurassic stages

Narindasaurus is a genus of turiasaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Isalo III Formation of Madagascar. The type and only species is Narindasaurus thevenini. The only known specimen of the genus was first described in 1907, but it was not formally named as a distinct species until 2020.

Diagnosis

  1. Middle-anterior caudal vertebrae with asymmetric lateral fossa set in posterior position
  2. Longitudinal ridge on lateral face of pubis from obturator foramen to distal end
  3. Perpendicular angle between ischial articulation and posterior pubic symphysis
  4. Distal end of pubis with obtuse angle between ventral and anterior surfaces
  5. Outwardly developed triangular lateral trochanter of fibula

Species

Narindasaurus thevenini Royo-Torres et al., 2020

Type species

Named for Armand Thevenin, the French paleontologist who first described the holotype specimen in 1907.

Holotype
MNHN MAJ 423, MNHN MAJ 424, MNHN MAJ 425, MNHN MAJ 426, MNHN MAJ 427, MNHN MAJ 428, MNHN MAJ 429, MNHN MAJ 430 , Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
Material
Partial skeleton with right maxillary or premaxillary tooth, anterior and posterior caudal vertebrae, middle-anterior and distal chevrons, right ulna, tibia, fibula, and left pubis
Horizon
Isalo III Formation, Bathonian, Middle Jurassic , 168.2–165.3 million years ago
Locality
Ankinganivalaka, Mahajanga, Madagascar

References

  1. Royo-Torres, R.; Cobos, A.; Mocho, P.; Alcalá, L. (2020). Origin and evolution of turiasaur dinosaurs set by means of a new 'rosetta' specimen from Spain. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 191(1): 201-227. Oxford University Press (OUP). doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa091 royo-torres2020a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length, mass, and hip height estimates.

    jones2026b