Liliensternus

Liliensternus was a moderate-sized predatory theropod that inhabited ancient Germany during the Norian stage of the Late Triassic. Originally described as a species of Halticosaurus by Friedrich von Huene, it was later assigned to its own genus named in honour of the amateur palaeontologist Hugo Rühle von Lilienstern. Measuring around five metres long and lightly built, Liliensternus was among the largest carnivorous dinosaurs known from Triassic Europe. Its skull likely possessed a low crest similar to that seen in Dilophosaurus, alongside sharp, recurved teeth adapted for slicing flesh. With long hind limbs and four-fingered forelimbs, it was an agile active hunter capable of pursuing nimble prey such as small reptiles as well as subadult Plateosaurus that shared its arid seasonal habitat.

It was one of the largest predatory dinosaurs of the European Late Triassic period.

Where and when

Liliensternus lived in the Late Triassic, from 210 to 205 million years ago (Norian age). Its remains come from Germany, in the Trossingen Formation.

The numbers

Length 5.1 m (estimates run from 5 to 5.2 m). Mass about 150 kg. Hip height about 1.6 m. That is 3 human-lengths, or 0.46 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, first ma, last ma, hip height.

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