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Shanshanosaurus

Towering mounted sauropod skeleton in a museum atrium
Photo: Etemenanki3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pronunciation
shan-SHAN-uh-SAWR-us
Name means
Shanshan Lizard
Diet
Carnivore
Posture
Bipedal
Period
Late Cretaceous
Length
8 feet (2.4 meters)
Height
3.5 feet (1.1 meters)

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Theropoda

Found in China, this dinosaur was probably a very agile and fast runner. Its legs were three times as long as its arms, andit had a large wedge-shaped head.

Restoration of Carnotaurus, a horned theropod from the Cretaceous
Photo: Andrey Atuchin, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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 Shanshanosaurus mean?

The name Shanshanosaurus means “Shanshan Lizard”. It is pronounced shan-SHAN-uh-SAWR-us.

When did Shanshanosaurus live?

Shanshanosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Was Shanshanosaurus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Shanshanosaurus was a carnivore.

How big was Shanshanosaurus?

Shanshanosaurus was about 8 feet (2.4 meters) long, around 3.5 feet (1.1 meters) tall.

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