Sarcosaurus

Sarcosaurus was a modest-sized predatory theropod from the Early Jurassic of Leicestershire and Warwickshire in England. Known from partial pelvis elements, vertebrae, and limb bones found in the marine Blue Lias Formation, it lived around one hundred and ninety-five million years ago. These skeletal remains represent an animal measuring about three to three point five metres in length that walked on two slender hind legs. As an early neotheropod, it likely possessed a narrow skull equipped with sharp, blade-like serrated teeth suited to hunting small terrestrial vertebrates and early ornithischians along coastal islands. Because its known fossils were washed into marine strata, complete skeletons remain elusive. However, recent reassessments place Sarcosaurus near the base of Averostra or as an early coelophysoid, providing valuable clues about predatory dinosaur recovery following the end-Triassic extinction.

It is one of the earliest recognised British theropods from the dawn of the Jurassic period.

Where and when

Sarcosaurus lived in the Early Jurassic, from 199.3 to 194 million years ago (Sinemurian age). Its remains come from United Kingdom, in the Blue Lias Formation.

The numbers

Length 3.3 m (estimates run from 3 to 3.5 m). Mass about 63 kg. Hip height about 1.1 m. That is 1.9 human-lengths, or 0.29 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from fragmentary remains; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, hip height.

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