Fun Halticosaurus Facts For Kids

Many fossil-remains tracing back to the Halticosaurus were discovered from Germany but most of them were restructured to other genera. In the end, the Halticosaurus dinosaur was left with fragments of only a single fossil. The fossils of the type species of the Halticosaurus genus, Halticosaurus longotarsus were discovered in 1908 for the first time. A second species called Halticosaurus orbitoangulatus was discovered in 1932 and a third one called Liliensternus liliensterni was found in 1934.

Liliensternus liliensterni was named by Von Huene first who included them as a member of the Halticosaurus genus. They were reclassified under the Liliensternus genus. Rauhut and Hungerbuhler also classified the dinosaur species Orbitoangulatus under the genus Saltoposuchus based on the structure of its jaw and teeth. All these dinosaurs, when they were discovered were believed to be Halticosaurus and their bones aged back to the Late Triassic age. However, most of the Halticosaurus fragments were indeterminate as mentioned by Rauhut and Hungerbuhler. To know more facts about this dinosaur, keep on reading these amazing facts.

For similar content, check out Trinisaura facts, or Jingshanosaurus fun facts for kids too.

How do you pronounce 'Halticosaurus'?

Halticosaurus is an ancient genus of dinosaurs that lived in the Triassic period. The English name of the Halticosaurus is pronounced as hal-tick-oh-sore-us. The name Halticosaurus is a synonym for nimble lizard.

What type of dinosaur was a Halticosaurus?

The Halticosaurus is a type of theropod dinosaur genus that belonged to the late Triassic period. Apart from Halticosaurus longotarsus, Friedrich Von Huene described the dinosaur Liliensternus liliensterni as one of the members of the halticosaurus genus. Halticosaurus liliensterni is the type species of Liliensternus genus and the combination of these two genera results in Liliensternus liliensterni. The species H. liliensterni is a type of neotheropoda dinosaur which is the advanced version of the theropod dinosaur that lived between the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic period.

In which geological period did the Halticosaurus roam the earth?

The species of Halticosaurus are European Triassic dinosaurs that came into existence during the upper Triassic stage in the Middle Stubensandstein formation that is, present Germany. They belonged to the Norian stage of the upper Triassic epoch. The Norian stage is the intermediate stage between the last three periods of the late Triassic age that is the age between the Carnian and the Rhaetian age. Geologically, the Norian stage lasted from 228 million years ago to 208.5 million years ago. The type species of the Halticosaurus genus like, Halticosaurus longotarsus, the second species Halticosaurus orbitoangulatus, and the third species H. liliensterni or Liliensternus liliensterni were found during the middle part of this Norian stage that is around 215.6 million years ago.

When did the Halticosaurus become extinct?

The Halticosaurus dinosaurs were a part of the late European Triassic epoch and they belonged to the Norian geological stage of the Triassic. This stage lasted from 228 million years ago to 208 million years ago. However, the fragments of the Halticosaurus dated back to the middle phase of the Norian age. Their remains are 215.6 million years old and it is believed that the race ended with the end of the Norian age and the start of the Rhaetian age. This transition between the two stages took place 208 million years ago.

Where did a Halticosaurus live?

The fragmentary fossils of the Halticosaurus longotarsus were the first fossils to be discovered from the group Halticosaurus. Their fossils were collected from the Middle Stubensandstein formation which is known as Germany at present and some of them were also reported from Moon-Airel Formation in France.

What was a Halticosaurus' habitat?

The Halticosaurus lived in primitive European habitats. They roamed around the lowlands and floodplains of present western Europe. They were highly territorial so they were predominantly found in territorial habitats.

Who did a Halticosaurus live with?

A Halticosaurus dinosaur was assumed to be a carnivorous dinosaur. The clade lived on the earth with other of the same era and belonged to the family of coelophysoids. Even though they coexisted with the dinosaurs of other families and genera of the upper Triassic era, it is believed that the species among themselves lived solitarily. They were highly territorial in nature and feasted on the flesh of other small dinosaurs on their own. This species was never known to live in groups or herd with the same or other similar species.

How long did a Halticosaurus live?

After studying the structure of the remains it was inferred that the Halticosaurus was an ancient carnivorous theropod dinosaur that belonged to the Late Triassic. The Halticosaurus came into being during the middle of the Norian age of the upper Triassic and lasted for eight million years. They came into existence 216 million years ago and perished 208 million years ago.

How did they reproduce?

The reproductive practices of the Halticosaurus could not be determined by the fossils that were discovered. Like all dinosaurs, they also laid eggs but specific details about them are absent.

What did a Halticosaurus look like?

The Halticosaurus meaning nimble lizard is an ancient dinosaur whose morphological structure has been described by the recovered fossils. They had a low and shallow jaw connected to a long neck. The vertebrate of the hip is narrower. They also have a long skull that measures 18.1 in (46 cm).

How many bones did a Halticosaurus have?

The number of bones that Halticosaurus had is unknown since only a partial structure of their bone structure has been discovered as fossils.

How did they communicate?

Like all dinosaurs, the Halticosaurus also communicated using vocalizations and visual receptions.

How big was a Halticosaurus?

The average length of a Halticosaurus dinosaur is 18 ft (5.5 m). They are around three times bigger than Anabisetia.

How fast could a Halticosaurus move?

The name Halticosaurus means nimble lizard that is good at jumping. They had nimble bones therefore, it is considered that they were well adapted in moving by jumping movements but their speed is unknown.

How much did a Halticosaurus weigh?

The theropod clade of dinosaurs had a hollow bone structure, so the Halticosaurus is believed to be light-weighted although the actual weight is unknown.

What were the male and female names of the species?

The male and female dinosaur do not have any specific names. Both are called Halticosaurus dinosaurs.

What would you call a baby Halticosaurus?

A baby dinosaur is called nestling or hatchling.

What did they eat?

The Halticosaurus were flesh-eaters but their common prey is unknown.

How aggressive were they?

The Halticosaurus were carnivorous in nature and were considered to be an apex predator of their region.

Did you know...

There is another report of the Halticosaurus dinosaur fossil remains that were discovered from another part of Germany. These remains date back to 208 million years ago to 201 million years ago which falls in the Rhaetian age.

How was the Halticosaurus discovered?

Only a single fossil remain of Haticosaurus longotarsus was discovered from Germany. They were described for the first time in 1908 by Friedrich Von Huene. Von Huene classified them as a member of the Saurischian family. The fossil remains that were discovered consisted of the incomplete neck, crushed skull, partial jawbones with teeth, and incomplete fragments of the back, neck, hip, humerus, and tail vertebrate.

Did the Halticosaurus have strong teeth?

The Halticosaurus were carnivorous in nature which suggests that they had strong teeth. However since partial jaw structure was discovered, the actual morphology of the teeth cannot be inferred.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Coelurus facts, or Aublysodon fun facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable dinosaur spring coloring pages.

Main image by Nobu Tamura

Second image by Ghedoghedo