Daemonosaurus chauliodus

†Daemonosaurus chauliodus ('demon lizard with bucktooth') is a basal theropod dinosaur from the Late Triassic of New Mexico, USA. Its large procumbent front teeth and short snout distinguish it from other early theropods. This small predator occupied a transitional position in theropod phylogeny, bridging coelophysoid and later theropod lineages.

Time Period

Triassic Late Mesozoic Era

Daemonosaurus chauliodus 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.