Dinosaurs A to Z
Herrerasauridae

Gnathovorax

Generic theropod body-plan outline
You 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall
Gnathovorax 5 m (16.4 ft) long
as long as 3 people standing fingertip to fingertip
generic theropod body plan, scaled to length — not a silhouette of Gnathovorax
Length
5 m (16.4 ft)
Period
Late Triassic (233.23 Mya)
Place
Brazil
Food
Carnivore
Clade
Herrerasauridae

Gnathovorax is a genus of herrerasaurid saurischian dinosaur from the Santa Maria Formation in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The type and only species is Gnathovorax cabreirai, described by Pacheco et al. in 2019. The type specimen comprises a mostly complete and well-preserved articulated skeleton (considered one of the best herrerasaurid skeletons ever discovered), which fossilized in close association with rhynchosaur and cynodont remains. The discovery of this superb specimen has shed light onto poorly understood aspects of herrerasaurid anatomy such as endocranial soft tissues.

What we know

  • Named by Pacheco et al., 2019.
  • Fossils found in Brazil.

What we guess

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