Masiakasaurus

dinosaur · Madagascar · unusual teeth

Forwards-facing teeth. Unlike almost all other theropods, Masiakasaurus had front teeth that pointed straight ahead instead of downward. This strange tooth arrangement was probably perfect for snatching fish and other small, slippery prey.

Vicious lizard. The name Masiakasaurus comes from the Malagasy word "masiaka," which means vicious, so the full name means "vicious lizard." Pretty fitting for a hungry little dinosaur hunter!

Named after a rock star. The species is called Masiakasaurus knopfleri, named after the famous musician Mark Knopfler. His music actually inspired the scientists who found it and named it in 2001.

Tiny but mighty. Masiakasaurus was only about 6 feet long and weighed around 44 pounds, making it much smaller than the famous T-rex. Its back legs were way longer and stronger than its front arms, so it ran on two powerful back legs.

Ancient Madagascar neighbor. This dinosaur lived 72 to 66 million years ago in Madagascar, sharing its world with other amazing creatures like the giant meat-eater Majungasaurus and a flying dinosaur called Rahonavis.