Liliensternus
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Liliensternus Temporal range: Late Triassic, 228–201 Ma |
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| Skeleton restoration | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Theropoda |
| Superfamily: | †Coelophysoidea |
| Genus: |
†Liliensternus Welles, 1984 |
| Type species | |
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†Halticosaurus liliensterni Huene, 1934 |
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| Species | |
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†Liliensternus liliensterni |
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| Synonyms | |
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Halticosaurus liliensterni Huene, 1934 |
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†Liliensternus liliensterni
(Huene, 1934)
Halticosaurus liliensterni Huene, 1934
Liliensternus is an extinct genus of coelophysoid theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 210 million years ago during the latter part of the Triassic Period in what is now Germany. Liliensternus was a moderate-sized, bipedal, ground-dwelling carnivore, that could grow up to 5.15 m (16.9 ft) long. It is the best represented Triassic theropod from Europe and one of the largest known.
Liliensternus was approximately 5.15 m (16.9 ft) long, and may have weighed about 127 kg (280 lb). Other estimates suggest that Liliensternus was at best 5.2 m (17.1 ft) long and weighed 200 kilograms (441 pounds) at most. The remains of two specimens of Liliensternus together form a syntype series with inventory number MB.R.2175, and consist of the partial and fragmentary skeletons of at least two individuals, containing elements of the skull, the lower jaws, the vertebrae and the appendicular skeleton. The tibia (409 mm) is shorter than the femur (440 mm) in both Dilophosaurus and Liliensternus, unlike those of the smaller coelophysid taxa, such as Coelophysis. Paul (1988) noted that based on its appearance, Liliensternus could be considered to be an intermediate between Coelophysis and Dilophosaurus. Although the skull is not well known, many reconstructions have Liliensternus with a crest similar to that observed in Dilophosaurus. Its ilium (hip bone) is unusually short, as is the case with Dilophosaurus.
Rauhut et al. (1998) noted that the remains may represent a juvenile or subadult individual based on the presence of only two fused sacrals and the fact that the neurocentral sutures are still visible in the vertebrae.
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