One of the first predators, Herrerasaurus lived in the late Triassic period in the northwest of modern Argentina. It reached only a few meters in length, but at the same time it was one of the largest bipedal animals that existed at that time.
A mixture of primitive and advanced features makes it difficult to assign Herrerasaurus to any particular group of dinosaurs. Nevertheless, recent studies suggest that a member of the theropod group.
Herrerasaurus was one of the most dangerous predators of the time. Like other theropods, Herrerasaurus’s limb bones were long and hollow. Separate vertebrae of the tail were firmly connected, giving it rigidity, which helped the animal to maintain balance when running and jumping.
Strong front paws ended in three elongated fingers with curved, pointed claws. The movable articulation of the lower jaw made it possible to tightly clasp the victim and hold it in the mouth. Tasty prey for the Herrerasaurs were pig-like rhynchosaurs, large, herbivorous reptiles that were widespread in the late Triassic period.
Rhynchosaurus Fossils Found Inside Herrerasaurus Chest. On one Herrerasaurus skull, scientists found traces of injury and found that animals could be attacked even by representatives of the same species. The reasons for these attacks are unknown. Perhaps the animals fought for food, a female, or for territory.
