Unaysaurus tolentinoi

† Unaysaurus tolentinoi is a Late Triassic sauropodomorph from the Caturrita Formation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a close relative of European prosauropods. Its discovery challenged biogeographic models and suggests early dinosaur faunas were cosmopolitan.

Time Period

Triassic Late Mesozoic Era

Unaysaurus tolentinoi 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.