Minisauripus Temporal range: Barremian - Cenomanian,
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Trace fossil classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | Theropoda |
Ichnogenus: | †Minisauripus Zhen et al., 1995 |
Type ichnospecies | |
†Minisauripus chuanzhuensis Zhen et al., 1995
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Other ichnospecies | |
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Minisauripus is an ichnogenus of dinosaur footprint. Minisauripus is regarded as the smallest pre KT-extinction dinosaur ever discovered. It was less than 20 cm (7.8 inches) long. Its footprints have been found in the Jinju Formation and the Feitianshan Formation, a low-energy lake formation. Its footprints were found within the vicinity of those of the larger Jialingpus.
Based on the trackways, Minisauripus was possibly a hatchling theropod. However, ichnopalaeontologists aren't sure if it belonged to an actual juvenile dinosaur. The Minisauripus tracks show three distinct toes, unlike the tracks of similar-sized small dromaeosaurids such as Dromaeosauripus rarus, which are didactyl, with the "killer claw" on the inner toe being held off the ground and thus not preserved in the trackway.