Species · GBIF taxon 4966172
Noasaurus leali
Noasaurus lealiNoasaurus leali was a gracile, agile ceratosaurian theropod that inhabited the Late Cretaceous floodplains of what is now northwestern Argentina. Historically famous for a curved claw once mistakenly placed on its foot like a dromaeosaurid, anatomical re-evaluation revealed this raptorial ungual actually tipped its grasping hand. As a fast-moving hunter, it pursued small vertebrates across seasonal waterways, occupying a fleet-footed predatory niche overshadowed by gigantic apex abelisaurids.
CarnivoreFossilCretaceous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small lizards
- Early mammals
- Juvenile dinosaurs
Predators
- Abelisaurid theropods
- Large terrestrial crocodyliforms
ThreatsCretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, apex abelisaurids
HabitatsSemi-arid floodplains and riparian scrublands
Life span10–20 years
Classification
- FamilyNoasauridae
- SpeciesNoasaurus leali
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from fossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Viewing: Seek out authenticated skeletal casts and exhibits in natural history museums.
- Field Etiquette: Never remove or excavate vertebrate fossil material without legal academic permits.
Distantly Related (c) D. Gordon E. Robertson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Neighbor LadyofHats Altered by Steveoc 86 and FunkMonk / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative Eduard Solà / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Etemenanki3 / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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