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HomeDinosaurs › Malawisaurus

Malawisaurus

Life restoration of Stegosaurus showing plates and tail spikes
Photo: DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pronunciation
ma-LAHW-wee-SAWR-us
Name means
Malawi Lizard
Also known as
Gigantosaurus dixeyi, Tornieria dixeyi
Diet
Herbivore
Posture
Quadrupedal
Period
Early Cretaceous
Length
30 feet (9.1 meters)
Height
14 feet (4.3 meters)
Weight
24,030 pounds (10,900 kg)

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Sauropodomorpha · Infraorder: Sauropoda · Family: Titanosauridae

Malawisaurus takes its name from the place of its discovery, Malawi, Africa. Discovered by Dr. Louis Jacobs, Malawisaurus closely resembles Andesaurus from South America. Its discovery provided a missing link in the evolutionary story of titanosaurids. It is the only Titanosaurid for which skull material (but not a whole skull)is known.

Reconstructed skeleton of a titanosaur, among the largest land animals
Photo: William Irvin Sellers, Lee Margetts, Rodolfo Aníbal Coria, Phillip Lars Manning, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

More Cretaceous-period dinosaurs →

Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Frequently asked questions

What does Malawisaurus mean?

The name Malawisaurus means “Malawi Lizard”. It is pronounced ma-LAHW-wee-SAWR-us.

When did Malawisaurus live?

Malawisaurus lived during the Early Cretaceous.

Was Malawisaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Malawisaurus was a herbivore.

How big was Malawisaurus?

Malawisaurus was about 30 feet (9.1 meters) long, around 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall, weighing up to 24,030 pounds (10,900 kg).

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