Fun Quilmesaurus Facts For Kids

Reptiles such as lizards, turtles, snakes, and crocodiles, and birds are speculated to be descended from dinosaurs. The evolution of dinosaurs from the Late Triassic period dates back to 243 million years ago.

One of the members of Theropods is the Quilmesaurus from the family Abelisauridae. It is closely related to the genus Carnotaurus.

Its type species is described to be Quilmesaurus curriei. Also, Rubén Juárez Valieri speculated that it is related to the Rajasaurus, one of the Abelisaurid dinosaurs, due to the similarity between the distal tibia.

Since then, evidence of fossils covered lacked unique features, rendering a Quilmesaurus to be a nomen vanum or nomen dubium or dubious name. It was first described and named by Rodolfo Aníbal Coria.

The generic name 'Quilmesaurus' originated from the 'Quilme' which is an indigenous tribe who settled in northwestern Argentina. The specific epithet 'curriei' of the name of its type species Quilmesaurus curriei, honors the Canadian Theropod paleontologist, Dr. Philip John Currie.

If the uniqueness of the Liaoceratops makes you interested in reading more about similar species, you can read about the Altispinax and the Sinornithoides. 

Quilmesaurus Interesting Facts

How do you pronounce 'Quilmesaurus'?

The Quilmesaurus is pronounced as 'kwil-me-sor-us'.

What type of dinosaur was a Quilmesaurus?

The Quilmesaurus was a Theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period. It belongs to the clade Dinosauria, more specifically the clade Theropoda, family Abelisauridae, and is closely related to the Carnotaurus. The description of the type species of genus Quilmesaurus curriei was first documented by Rodolfo Anibal Coria in 2001.

In which geological period did the Quilmesaurus roam the Earth?

The specimen of the Quilmesaurus consisting of remains of the distal, i.e., the lower or outermost portion of the femur (upper bone near the thigh) and a right tibia (the shinbone, leg bones below the knees) was found from the Allen formation. Fossil remains show that the Quilmesaurus dates back to the late Cretaceous period.

When did the Quilmesaurus become extinct?

The Quilmesaurus is an extinct genus of Abelisaurids dating back to the late Cretaceous epoch. There is no estimated period of time stating when the Quilmesaurus became extinct, but its temporal range varied until 75-66 million years ago.

Where did the Quilmesaurus live?

The Quilmesaurus is described to have lived in Argentina as the first specimen of fossils were discovered in the Río Negro near Salitral Ojo de Agua.

Also, a holotype dating back from the Campanian to Maastrichtian (fifth and sixth age of the Cretaceous period) comprising the distal portion of the femur and right tibia was found from the Allen Formation in the Neuquén Basin of the Malargüe Group.

What was the Quilmesaurus habitat?

Since the first fossil remains were discovered in woodlands of South Africa in Roca city, Río Negro near the Salitral Ojo de Agua, the preferred habitat of the Quilmesaurus is speculated to have been woodlands. It is also speculated to be found in grasslands, forests, deserts, beaches, and areas with plentiful vegetation.

Who did a Quilmesaurus live with?

Dinosaurs were thought to either lead a solitary life or live in pairs or trios. While herbivore dinosaurs foraged in groups, dinosaurs with diet carnivore often led a solitary life and sometimes preyed in pairs or trios.

Dinosaurs are described to have lived in pairs mostly during the breeding season. On the contrary, the behavior of the Quilmesaurus is not yet discovered or described.

How long did a Quilmesaurus live?

Early Sauropods were speculated to live over 300 years. Recent data described the Apatosaurus and the Diplodocus to have lived around 70-80 years. While content is available related to these dinosaurs, the evidence unless otherwise noted fails to highlight the estimated life span of the Quilmesaurus.

How did they reproduce?

Dinosaurs are known as oviparous laying amniotic eggs. Females are known to grow special bones called the medullary bone which assists in making eggshells rich in calcium.

These bones help paleontologists to decipher the sex of dinosaurs. Dinosaurs were speculated to keep eggs warm in an insulating layer of feathers incubating eggs. Evidence suggests that parents fed young dinosaurs.

Specifically, the evidence reflects that members of the clade Theropoda are speculated as precocial or superprecocial dinosaurs demonstrating a high rate of growth. While the member of the family Abelisauridae was a slower-growing Theropod, data do not specify the exact reproductive behavior of the Quilmesaurus.

Quilmesaurus Fun Facts

What did the Quilmesaurus look like?

Known fossils of the Theropod dinosaur from the family Abelisauridae are fragmented.

Thus, not much was speculated about the appearance of the member of the genus Quilmesaurus. The holotype of the dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period discovered is known to comprise the distal half of the right femur and a complete specimen of the right tibia.

It was collected from the Allen formation and the preserved half of the femur is of a robust and boxy shape.

The proximal or upper half of the tibia is known to have several complex features, while the distal portion possesses projections connecting the ankle bone.

The proximal portion of the tibia was speculated from a large hatchet-shaped body part known as a cnemial crest. The tip of the cnemial crest is hooked and the shape of the cnemial crest assisted Rubén Juárez Valieri to conclude evidence specifying the Quilmesaurus to be one of the Abelisaurids.

While it is one of the smallest Abelisaurids, leg bones were speculated to share similarities with the largest dinosaur with a diet carnivore from the family, such as the Pycnonemosaurus.

How many bones did a Quilmesaurus have?

While leg bones of the genus Quilmesaurus were known to share similarities with Abelisaurids, fragmented fossils recorded fail to reflect upon the estimated numbers of bones in the dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period. The preserved holotype of the femur and tibia raised speculation about bones in these dinosaurs.

Because the upper portion of the femur is also missing, while the tibia is complete, it is challenging to state features of the dinosaur using fragmented specimens of fossils.

How did they communicate?

Dinosaurs used various techniques such as tapping, clapping, rubbing scales together, or splashing the water to communicate. While data do not highlight any specific communication behavior, the Quilmesaurus is speculated to communicate via similar methods.

How big was a Quilmesaurus?

The Quilmesaurus size is known to have a body length of around 17.3 ft (5.3 m). It is one of the smallest Abelisaurids, while the length of the leg is similar to that of the Pycnonemosaurus, one of the largest dinosaurs in the family.

How fast could a Quilmesaurus move?

Data do not record the speed of the dinosaur. Considering the length of its leg and the size of its body, dinosaurs from the genus Quilmesaurus had a substantial speed.

How much did a Quilmesaurus weigh?

While the exact bodyweight of the Quilmesaurus is not recorded, dinosaurs from the clade Theropoda were known to weigh up to 1,000 lb (453.5 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

Male and female dinosaurs do not have different names but its type species is referred to as Quilmesaurus curriei.

What would you call a baby Quilmesaurus?

A baby Quilmesaurus is often called a chick or hatchling but does not have a specific name.

What did they eat?

The genus Quilmesaurus had a carnivorous diet, similar to dinosaurs from the clade Theropoda. The dinosaur primarily fed upon a variety of prey including Ornithopods, Sauropods, Crocodylomorphs, Pterosaurs, Theropods, and several herbivores and small dinosaurs.

How aggressive were they?

The genus Quilmesaurus with its type species Quilmesaurus curriei, is recorded to have had quite an aggressive temperament. While these dinosaurs did not prey upon humans, data related to the genus feature evidence that this dinosaur may have attacked when threatened.

Did you know...

According to Rubén Juárez Valieri, the Quilmesaurus is the smallest dinosaur among Abelisaurid dinosaurs with the type species documented to be Quilmesaurus curriei. He also described similarities between the Quilmesaurus and other Albesaurid dinosaurs including the Aucasaurus, the Majungasaurus, the Genusaurus, the Rajasaurus, and the Carnotaurus. Since specimens found are fragmentary, it is considered a nomen dubium (dubious name).

How did the Quilmesaurus get their name?

This genus of dinosaurs was named by an Argentine paleontologist, Rodolfo Aníbal Coria. The genus name of Quilmesaurus is derived from the name of the indigenous tribe of native American people. Further, the name of the type species Quilmesaurus curriei has its specific epithet honoring Dr. Philip John Currie.

How were they discovered?

Data on these Theropoda dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous period indicate that the discovery of the Quilmesaurus dates back to the late 1980s. It was initiated by a field crew from the Universidad Nacional Tucumán that was led by Jaime Powell, an Argentine paleontologist.

While fossils were uncovered in the 1980s, the dinosaur wasn't named until 2001 with the type species Quilmesaurus curriei. Its holotype was collected from the Allen formation which provided info about the body and behavior of these dinosaurs originating from Argentina.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Neimongosaurus facts and Segisaurus facts for kids.

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

*We've been unable to source an image of a Quilmesaurus and have used an image of a Rajasaurus instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a Quilmesaurus, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.