Gasparinisaura

Gasparinisaura was a small, graceful herbivorous dinosaur that inhabited Patagonia during the Late Cretaceous, roughly 85 to 80 million years ago. Named in honour of Argentine palaeontologist Zulma Gasparini, this animal measured between one and two metres long and weighed about as much as a medium-sized dog. It is exceptionally well represented in the fossil record, with over a hundred individuals discovered, ranging from juveniles to adults. These grouped finds strongly indicate gregarious, herd-dwelling behaviour. Gasparinisaura possessed large eyes, slender running hindlimbs, and triangular serrated teeth suitable for chewing seeds and leaves. Some specimens even preserve gastroliths within the stomach cavity to assist in grinding down fibrous plant matter.

Dozens of skeletons have been found clustered together, suggesting they moved in social herds.

Where and when

Gasparinisaura lived in the Late Cretaceous, from 85 to 80 million years ago (Santonian-Campanian age). Its remains come from Argentina, in the Anacleto Formation.

The numbers

Length 1.3 m (estimates run from 0.8 to 1.7 m). Mass about 11 kg. Hip height about 0.5 m. That is 0.8 human-lengths, or 0.12 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from near-complete skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, first ma, last ma, hip height.

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