This tiny dinosaur was a close relative of Heterodontosaurus, Geranosaurus was among the very first dinosaur that appeared. They were ancestors of "bird-footed dinosaurs," such as Fabrosaurus. Scientists believes they eventually led to the great families of the bonehead dinosaurs like Pachycephalosaurus.

More than 130 million years before the bonehead dinosaurs, however, the little Geranosaurus roamed large areas of South America and South Africa. At that time, the two countries were joined together. Since then, over millions of years, South America and Africa drifted apart.

Geranosaurus means "crane-lizard." It had tusks as well as teeth that were used for grinding food. Perhaps only males had tusks. Geranosaurus had small tusks in the lower jaw but no sockets for them in the upper jaw.

It is believed these little dinosaurs died out around 200 million years ago. Heterodontosaurids did not lead to other, more developed descendents. Yet they came from a line that also produced the "bird-foot" dinosaurs, and scientists think they may stillfind remians of later members of the heterodontosaurid family. It would not be surprising if they turned up in South America.

Location: South Africa

Size: Length- 4 feet

      Weight- 50 pound

Time: Triassic