Vespersaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period, specifically from the Aptian to Campanian stages. It was found in the Rio Paraná Formation in Brazil.
The name Vespersaurus means “western lizard.” The name comes from the Latin word “vesper,” which means “evening” or “west,” and the Greek word “sauros,” which means “lizard.” The dinosaur’s full name is Vespersaurus paranaensis, after the state of Paraná in Brazil.
This dinosaur was small, measuring about 1 to 1.5 meters long, which is similar in size to other dinosaurs like Noasaurus and Masiakasaurus. Vespersaurus had a unique foot structure. It had a large middle toe that helped it walk, making it a monodactyl dinosaur, meaning it had one prominent toe.
Fossils of Vespersaurus were discovered between 2011 and 2015 in a place near Cruzeiro do Oeste. Earlier, in the 1970s, some footprints that might belong to Vespersaurus or a dinosaur like it were also found in that area.
Scientists studied the teeth and feet of Vespersaurus to learn more about its lifestyle. They found its teeth were not made for catching strong or hard prey but were good enough for a variety of small food items. Thus, Vespersaurus is thought to have been more of an opportunistic feeder, not a top predator.
The footprints related to Vespersaurus were also part of research. Some tracks were named Farlowichnus rapidus, but there were debates among scientists about whether they were made by Vespersaurus or another dinosaur.
Overall, Vespersaurus gives us a glimpse into the diversity of dinosaur life in prehistoric Brazil, showing how some small dinosaurs adapted to their environments.