Agrosaurus is a type of extinct reptile from a group called Thecodontosauridae. It lived during the late Triassic period, about 206 to 202 million years ago. The name Agrosaurus means “field lizard,” coming from Greek words.
The first remains of Agrosaurus were claimed to be found in Australia, making it thought to be one of the earliest dinosaurs from there. However, researchers later discovered that these bones actually came from Bristol, England.
The main type of Agrosaurus is called Agrosaurus macgillivrayi. These bones were put in a collection at the British Museum in London but weren’t studied until many years later. In 1891, a scientist named Harry Govier Seeley named it Agrosaurus macgillivrayi.
The remains suggest that Agrosaurus was around three meters long, which is about ten feet. It had a bulky body, a long neck, and small head, and its feet had claws. Like many early dinosaurs, it likely walked on two legs and was mostly herbivorous, meaning it ate plants, though it might also have eaten other things.
Over time, experts have decided that Agrosaurus might not be a distinct kind of dinosaur at all. Instead, it is often seen as just a different name for a similar dinosaur known as Thecodontosaurus. If Agrosaurus is not from Australia, then the oldest known Australian dinosaurs come from a later time period.
Overall, the story of Agrosaurus shows how science can change as new information comes to light about our planet’s history.