Definition
Dinheirosaurus is a genus of large carnivorous theropod dinosaurs belonging to the family Megalosauridae, known from the Late Jurassic strata of western Portugal.
Overview
The genus is represented by the type species Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis, described in 2009 based on a relatively complete skeleton recovered from the Lourinhã Formation near the village of Praia da Luz in the municipality of Lourinhã. The fossil material dates to the Kimmeridgian stage, approximately 152–150 million years ago. Dinosaurs of this size and phylogenetic position were among the apex predators of the Late Jurassic European archipelago.
Etymology/Origin
The generic name combines “Dinheiro,” the Portuguese word for “money,” referring to the locality where the specimen was found, with the Greek suffix “‑saurus” meaning “lizard.” The specific epithet lourinhanensis denotes the Lourinhã region of Portugal, the site of the discovery.
Characteristics
- Size: Estimates based on the recovered skeletal elements suggest a total length of about 8–9 meters (26–30 feet) and a mass of roughly 1.5–2 tonnes.
- Skull and Dentition: The skull, though incomplete, shows typical megalosaurid features, including a robust mandible and serrated, laterally compressed teeth adapted for a predatory diet.
- Postcranial Skeleton: The vertebral column exhibits deep, pleurocoelous centra and well‑developed neural spines, indicating strong musculature. The forelimbs are relatively short but retain functional claws, while the hind limbs are long and powerful, reflecting a cursorial lifestyle.
- Phylogeny: Cladistic analyses place Dinosaursaurus within Megalosauridae, closely related to genera such as Megalosaurus and Torvosaurus. Its placement helps to clarify the diversification of megalosaurids in the European Late Jurassic.
- Paleoecology: The Lourinhã Formation preserves a diverse assemblage of contemporaneous fauna, including other large theropods, sauropods, and ornithischians, indicating that Dinheirosaurus occupied a top‑predator niche within a rich ecosystem.
Related Topics
- Megalosauridae: The family of large, basal tetanuran theropods to which Dinheirosaurus belongs.
- Lourinhã Formation: The Late Jurassic sedimentary sequence in Portugal yielding numerous dinosaur fossils, including Dinheirosaurus.
- Kimmeridgian Stage: The geologic time interval (≈152–150 Ma) during which Dinheirosaurus lived.
- European Late Jurassic Theropods: Other contemporaneous predators such as Torvosaurus, Allosaurus (rarely reported), and Ceratosaurus that shared similar habitats.
- Paleoecology of Jurassic Iberia: Studies of the ancient ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Jurassic, providing context for Dinheirosaurus’s ecological role.