Named By: Kenneth Carpenter - 1997.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Coelophysoidea.
Species: G. quayi (type).
Size: Around 5.5 meters long.
Known locations: USA, New Mexico - Bull Canyon Formation.
Time period: Norian of the Triassic.
Fossil representation: Partial post cranial remains including a tibia and hip.
props to Kenneth Carpenter for naming a dinosaur Gojirasaurus.
those not familiar with the name, Gojira is the name of probably the
most famous Japanese giant monster of all time that in the western
world is better known as Godzilla. A little more information for
fans and film buffs, Gojira is actually a combination of the
Japanese words for gorilla (gorira) and whale (kujira).
Cool names aside, Gojirasaurus is considered by some to be a dubious dinosaur genus. The vertebrae originally assigned to Gojirasaurus have since been interpreted as belonging to Shuvosaurus. Other remains, specifically a tibia and hip are near identical to those of Coelophysis, though this genus is only thought to grow up to three meters long, much smaller than the five and a half meters suggested for Gojirasaurus. Hopefully further fossil discoveries can be discovered in the future that will reveal more detail about these two dinosaur genera.
- A giant coelophysoid (Ceratosauria) theropod from the Upper Triassic of New Mexico, USA, Kenneth Carpenter - 1997.
- A critical re-evaluation of the Late Triassic dinosaur taxa of North America, Nesbitt & Parker - 2007