description Nyasasaurus parringtoni Overview
Nyasasaurus parringtoni is an extinct archosaur known from fragmentary Middle Triassic remains collected in Tanzania near Lake Nyasa, now called Lake Malawi. Its fossils, including a humerus and vertebrae, display anatomical features associated with dinosaurs and closely related dinosauriforms. At roughly 243 million years old, it may represent the earliest known dinosaur, but the limited material prevents a definitive placement within Dinosauria.
help Nyasasaurus parringtoni FAQ
Could Nyasasaurus parringtoni be the earliest known dinosaur?
Nyasasaurus is considered one of the earliest dinosaur or near-dinosaur candidates known, with Middle Triassic remains potentially dating to around 240 million years ago. However, its fragmentary nature has led some researchers to stop short of definitive classification as a true dinosaur.
Where was Nyasasaurus found?
Its fossils were collected from the Manda Beds of Tanzania, near Lake Nyasa, now called Lake Malawi. The region preserves Middle Triassic deposits that have yielded several important early archosaur specimens.
When were the Nyasasaurus fossils originally collected?
The specimens were collected by Rex Parrington in the 1930s during expeditions to what was then Tanganyika (now part of Tanzania). They were not formally described until much later, with a detailed analysis published by Sterling Nesbitt and colleagues in 2013.
What anatomical features link Nyasasaurus to dinosaurs?
The known fossils include a humerus with an elongated deltopectoral crest, a feature associated with dinosaurian forelimb structure, along with vertebrae displaying characteristics seen in early dinosaurs and their closest relatives.
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