Cridotrisauropus cruentus

† Cridotrisauropus cruentus is an ichnotaxon of tridactyl theropod footprints from the Early Jurassic Elliot Formation of Lesotho, southern Africa. The elongated, narrow tracks indicate a medium-sized cursorial predator, likely a coelophysoid or early tetanuran. The species name cruentus ('blood-red') may reference the red-bed sandstones in which the tracks are preserved. These ichnofossils document carnivorous dinosaur activity in Early Jurassic Gondwana.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Cridotrisauropus cruentus was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Jurassic Early Mesozoic Era

Cridotrisauropus cruentus lived during the Jurassic Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 201,4 to 174,7 million years ago.

After the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, dinosaurs rapidly diversified and became the dominant land vertebrates. Early sauropods and theropods began to evolve larger body sizes.