Velocisaurus is a small dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 85 million years ago, in what is now Argentina.
This dinosaur is part of a group called theropods, which are mostly known for being bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs. Velocisaurus is classified in a family called Noasauridae.
Velocisaurus was around 1.5 meters long, which is about 4.9 feet. This makes it one of the smallest members of its family. Its foot had special features. The middle toe was thick and strong, helping it run quickly. This speed was probably useful for escaping bigger predators. Instead of sharp claws, it had a claw on its toe that was more straight, suggesting that it might have eaten both plants and animals.
Some unique features of Velocisaurus include:
– A specifically shaped thigh bone that helps with muscle attachment.
– Long and slim bones in its lower leg.
– Very thin bones for some toes, making its feet different from other related dinosaurs.
Fossils of Velocisaurus were first found in Patagonia in Argentina in 1985. In 1991, a scientist named José Bonaparte officially named and described Velocisaurus from a nearly complete leg fossil. The name “Velocisaurus” comes from Latin, meaning “swift lizard,” while “unicus” means “unique,” highlighting its special foot structure.
Originally, Velocisaurus was thought to belong to its own family. But later studies showed it was closely related to another dinosaur called Masiakasaurus, and both of them fit into a broader category of theropods.
Researchers have studied Velocisaurus’ bones and did not find signs of stress fractures, which tells us a bit about how it lived. Velocisaurus remains an interesting example of the diversity of dinosaurs that roamed the Earth millions of years ago.