Sefapanosaurus is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived about 200 million years ago, during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic periods.
This dinosaur was a herbivore, meaning it ate plants. It belonged to a group of dinosaurs called sauropodomorphs, which were the main plant-eating dinosaurs for a very long time throughout the Mesozoic Era.
One unique feature of Sefapanosaurus is a special bone in its ankle shaped like a cross. This is where its name comes from. “Sefapanosaurus” combines the Sesotho word “sefapano,” meaning “cross,” and the Greek word “saurus,” meaning “lizard.” The species name “Sefapanosaurus zastronensis” refers to the place called Zastron, in South Africa, where its fossils were found.
Fossils of Sefapanosaurus were discovered in the Elliot Formation during the late 1930s. Originally, scientists thought these remains belonged to a different dinosaur named Aardonyx. Later studies revealed that the fossils were actually from this new dinosaur, Sefapanosaurus.
It is considered an important discovery because it helps scientists understand the evolution of dinosaurs. Sefapanosaurus is seen as a link between early two-legged dinosaurs and the later, massive four-legged dinosaurs known as sauropods.
Today, Sefapanosaurus is recognized as an important part of dinosaur history, contributing to our understanding of how dinosaurs evolved and diversified over millions of years.