Elaphrosaurus

dinosaur · Jurassic · ceratosaur · Africa

Lightweight and nimble. Elaphrosaurus was a medium-sized theropod dinosaur that could grow up to 20 feet long, but it was built for speed and agility rather than pure power, with a lean body and shallow chest.

Short legs on purpose. Unlike most theropods, Elaphrosaurus had surprisingly short hind legs compared to its long body, which likely made it a ground-hugging runner rather than a tall, upright stalker.

Tanzania's ancient carnivore. This dinosaur lived in Africa about 155 to 145 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Period, when Tanzania was home to diverse prehistoric creatures.

Close cousin of Limusaurus. Scientists believe Elaphrosaurus was closely related to Limusaurus, an unusual ceratosaur with a beak that may have eaten plants or mixed foods instead of just meat.

Built for hunting. As a ceratosaur theropod, Elaphrosaurus was a meat-eating dinosaur, though its unusual body shape shows it hunted differently than other predators of its time.