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Perijasaurus

Rincón et al., 2022 peh-ree-HAH-SAWR-us

Named after the Serranía del Perijá mountain range in Colombia where the fossil was discovered, combined with Greek sauros (lizard); meaning "Perija lizard".

184.2–170.9 million years ago Toarcian–Aalenian, Early Jurassic–Middle Jurassic
Early Jurassic and Middle Jurassic stages

Perijasaurus is a genus of basal eusauropod sauropod dinosaur from the "Girón-type redbeds" of the La Quinta Formation of Cesar Department, north-eastern Colombia. The type species is Perijasaurus lapaz. It lived during the Toarcian-Aalenian boundary around 175 million years ago (early to middle Jurassic period).

Diagnosis

  1. Divided centropostzygapophyseal lamina (autapomorphy)
  2. Strongly dorsally arched postzygapophyseal facets in posterior view (autapomorphy)
  3. Single intrapostzygapophyseal lamina
  4. Two spinodiapophyseal laminae
  5. Height of neural arch below postzygapophyses greater than centrum height
  6. Dorsolaterally directed transverse processes
  7. Strongly transversely expanded distal end of neural spine

Species

Perijasaurus lapaz Rincón et al., 2022

Type species

Named for La Paz, a town in Cesar Department, Colombia, near where the holotype was discovered, and also evoking the Spanish word 'paz' meaning 'peace', in reference to the peace agreement that allowed the describers to conduct fieldwork in the region.

Holotype
UCMP 37689 , University of California Museum of Paleontology
Material
Anterior to middle dorsal vertebra, possibly fifth in series; well-preserved centrum, neural arch, diapophyses, postzygapophyses, neural spine summit
Horizon
upper La Quinta Formation, Toarcian–Aalenian, Early Jurassic–Middle Jurassic , 184.2–170.9 million years ago
Locality
Arroyo Lameador, north of the Manaure-La Paz road, Cesar Department, Colombia

References

  1. Rincón, A. F.; Raad Pájaro, D. A.; Jiménez Velandia, H. F.; Ezcurra, M. D.; Wilson Mantilla, J. A. (2022). A sauropod from the Lower Jurassic La Quinta Formation (Dept. Cesar, Colombia) and the initial diversification of eusauropods at low latitudes. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 42(1). Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/02724634.2021.2077112 rincón2022a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

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

    jones2026b