Gasosaurus

Gas Company Contributed to Discovery! Unique Scientific Name “Gasoline Lizard”

The scientific name Gasosaurus literally translates to “Gas Lizard” or “Gasoline Lizard.”
While it sounds like a kaiju from a sci-fi movie or a joke, this is a genuine, academically recognized formal name.

Discovery in 1985 and Reason for Naming

Why was it given such a name?
Let’s turn the clock back to 1985 in China.
At the time, construction work for a gas facility was underway at a certain site.
During the excavation work, workers accidentally discovered dinosaur fossils in the ground.

The on-site gas company contributed significantly to this excavation work.
In honor of their contribution, the discovered dinosaur was gifted the name “Gasosaurus,” bearing the name “Gas.”
It can be called a discovery story unique to modern times, where the modern energy industry and ancient life were miraculously linked.

“Sturdy” Physique and Sharp Teeth Despite its Size

Fossils of Gasosaurus have not been found in a complete state; currently, it is known mainly from parts of the lower body and partial limbs and hip bones.
However, we can infer its appearance in life from these limited parts.

A Predator Combining Agility and Power

What is noteworthy is the sturdiness of its skeletal frame.
Its total length was about 3.5 meters, which is small compared to later giant carnivorous dinosaurs. However, analysis of the remaining bone structure reveals that it had a very “sturdy” skeleton for its size.
From this feature, it is inferred that Gasosaurus was a powerful predator possessing not only agility but also the power to bite into prey.

Also, the discovered teeth had the sharp “serrations” characteristic of carnivorous dinosaurs and closely resembled those of Megalosaurus discovered in the UK.
It likely brought down Middle Jurassic prey with these sharp teeth and sturdy jaws.

Ancestor of Tyrannosaurus? “Tetanurae” Unraveling Evolution

Gasosaurus is also an intriguing entity regarding its taxonomic position.
Initially, due to the primitive structure of its lower body and the characteristics of its teeth, it was thought to be a species of Megalosaurus.

“Distant Ancestor” of Giant Star Dinosaurs

However, with the progress of research, it is now placed in a more important position.
Gasosaurus belongs to the “Tetanurae,” a group that includes many carnivorous dinosaurs that would later dominate the dinosaur era, such as Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus. It is considered “one of the most primitive species” within this group.

This means that Gasosaurus is a “distant ancestor” of the star dinosaurs that would reign in later eras, or an existence close to the starting point of their evolution.
This dinosaur, which appeared by chance from a construction site, continues to fuel research into the evolution of carnivorous dinosaurs, much like fossil fuel itself.