Outline: a typical sauropod
Isanosaurus
"Isan lizard"
Type species Isanosaurus attavipachi
- Lived
- 193 to 175 million years ago, Early Jurassic
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Group
- Sauropods
- Found in
- Thailand
- Named by
- Buffetaut et al. 2000
Where its fossils were found
The evidence
Today
185 million years ago
Field notes
About Isanosaurus
What it was like
Isanosaurus was an early sauropod, one of the first true long-necked giants. It is known from parts of the backbone, ribs, shoulder and thigh. The bones seem to come from a young animal, so its adult size is uncertain.
Its world
It lived in what is now Thailand. Its bones come from the Nam Phong Formation. The age of these rocks is debated: they were first thought to be from the end of the Triassic, which would make Isanosaurus one of the oldest sauropods, but later studies suggest they may be younger.
How it was found
Buffetaut and colleagues named it in 2000. The type species is Isanosaurus attavipachi. Its name refers to the northeastern region of Thailand where it was found.
Close relatives
Other members of Sauropoda
Sources: WikidataNamed in: E. Buffetaut, V. Suteethorn, and G. Cuny, H. Tong, J. Le Loeuff, S. Khansubha, S. Jongautchariyakul. 2000. The earliest known sauropod dinosaur. Nature 407:72-74