Classification: Dinosauria - Saurischia - Theropoda - Herrerasauridae
Time Period: Late Triassic
Location: Argentina
Diet: Carnivore
Herrerasaurus lived in the Upper Triassic of Argentina and reached up to twenty feet in length and up to 750 pounds in weight. This predator was lightly built with a long tail and a relatively small head. It was fully bipedal with strong hind limbs and long feet. The feet had five toes, but only the middle three bore weight. The tail, partially stiffened by overlapping vertebral projections, balanced the body and was an adaptation for speed. Herrerasaurus’ upper arms and forearms were rather short, but the hands were elongated. The first two fingers and the thumb ended in curved, sharp claws used for slashing and gripping prey. The other fingers were small stubs without claws. Its long, narrow skull lacked most of the specializations seen in later dinosaurs, but it had a flexible joint in the lower jaw that could slide back and forth to deliver a grasping bite. Its jaws had large serrated teeth for biting and tearing, and its slender neck was flexible. It lived in the same environment as Eoraptor and likely preyed upon the Upper Triassic's super-salamanders and herbivorous dicynodonts; it would’ve competed with rauisuchians and phytosaurs for food.
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