Aviatyrannis

Type Species: Aviatyrannis jurassica

Classification: Dinosauria – Saurischia – Theropoda – Tetanurae – Coelurosauria – Tyrannosauroidea – Pantyrannosauria 

Time Period: Late Jurassic 

Location: Europe (Portugal)

Diet: Carnivore   

The tyrannosaurs had their genesis in the Jurassic Period – the earliest being the Middle Jurassic Proceratosaurus – but these were a far cry from their giant ancestors. The tyrannosaurs of the Jurassic were small and lithe; Aviatyrannis was the size of a dog, and its name means ‘tyrant’s grandmother.’ Aviatyrannis’ bones were collected at Guimarota, an abandoned coalmine that has become famous for its Jurassic mammal fossils. During the Late Jurassic, this was a warm and dry wooded island. Other dinosaurs in the environment included sauropods, troodontids, and other small theropods such as Compsognathus.