Dinosaurs A to Z
Abelisauridae

Eoabelisaurus eeəʊuh-belih-SORRUHS

Generic theropod body-plan outline
You 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall
Eoabelisaurus 6.5 m (21.3 ft) long
as long as 4 people standing fingertip to fingertip
generic theropod body plan, scaled to length — not a silhouette of Eoabelisaurus
Length
6.5 m (21.3 ft)
Period
Early Jurassic (179.17–178.07 Mya)
Place
South America · Argentina
Food
Carnivore
Clade
Abelisauridae

Eoabelisaurus () is a genus of abelisauroid theropod dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Formation of the Cañadón Asfalto Basin in Argentina, South America. The generic name combines a Greek ἠώς, (eos), “dawn”, with the name Abelisaurus, in reference to the fact it represents an early relative of the latter. Only one species is currently recognized, E. mefi; the specific name honours the MEF, the Museo Paleontológico “Egidio Feruglio”, where discoverer Diego Pol is active. It is characterized by reduced forelimb proportions that show primitive characteristics of the Abelisauridae family.

What we know

  • Named by Pol & Rauhut, 2012.
  • Body length estimated at about 6.5 m.
  • Fossils found in South America and Argentina.

What we guess

The reconstruction notes for Eoabelisaurus — soft tissue, color, behavior — haven't been written up yet. Only the recorded basics above are filled in so far.