Staurikosaurus pricei

† Staurikosaurus pricei is a Late Triassic herrerasaurid from the Santa Maria Formation of Brazil, one of the earliest known dinosaurs. This small carnivore illustrates the primitive predatory body plan at the origin of the dinosaurian lineage.

Time Period

Triassic Late Mesozoic Era

Staurikosaurus pricei lived during the Triassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 237,0 to 201,4 million years ago.

The first true dinosaurs appeared during the late Triassic, including early theropods like Eoraptor and Herrerasaurus. Dinosaurs were still small and not yet dominant. The period ended with the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event.