Among the Earliest Dinosaurs
Nyasasaurus is considered one of the earliest known dinosaurs, dating back to the Middle Triassic period around 245 million years ago.
| Meaning | Nyasa lizard [Nyasa-saurus] |
| Pronunciation | nye-AH-sah-sore-us |
| When: | Middle Triassic (about 243 million years ago) |
| Where: | Africa (Tanzania) |
| What: | Dinosaur (possibly an early dinosaur or close relative) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 20–60 kg (44–132 pounds) |
| Length: | Approximately 2–3 meters (6.5–10 feet) |
| Diet: | Possibly omnivorous or herbivorous |
| Discovered: | First described by Alan J. Charig and colleagues in 1956 |
Discovered in Tanzania, Africa, Nyasasaurus is important because it provides valuable insights into the early evolution of dinosaurs.
It was a small, bipedal animal, estimated to be about 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet) in length.
Nyasasaurus likely had a relatively slender build and may have been an early member of the dinosaur lineage that eventually gave rise to much larger species in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.