What on Earth Was Herrerasaurus? 

Amazing to think the time span between Herrerasaurus and T-Rex is 2.5 times longer than between today and T-Rex

When I was a child I was obsessed with dinosaurs and knew pretty much everything about them. Now I'm 58 and it seems that the world of dinosaur palaeontology has moved on so far that I now know very little.

Heterodontosaurus is another dinosaur with a similarly murky phylogenetic history. A video on it would also be nice

As someone who gets all my phylogenetic knowledge from Wikipedia, I've often wondered this question

fascinating. the triassic is often overlooked, glad to see some love for that time

Glad to see my favorite rectangle headed goofball getting some love! YEAH HERRERASAURUS!

I'm always astounded at these discoveries that sat in a drawer or storage for decades before someone finally noticed what they were. I don't know why, but I always expect science to be better organized than that. If I could go back in time, I'd make it a project to get universities to inventory all their collections, catalog the identifying details, and publish these catalogs once a year in a journal dedicated to this purpose. Or at least once a decade.

Science: "What are you?" Herrerasaurus: "I don't know! You keep confusing me!"

I love that you link your sources not enough channels do this!

Thank you for a video on that subject! Early dinosaurs are very underrated, and a video on other dinosauromorpha/groups of archsaurs would be a great companion piece to this.

The rapid radiation of relatively basal (by Dinosaurian standards) aka 'primitive' Herrerasaurids could have something to do with the Carnian Pluvial Event/Episode (or Carnian Humid Event/Episode) from ~234-232 Ma. They are already rather beautifully advanced in form as compared to numerous other Archosaurs from the Triassic Period, even as far back as 233 Ma. Which is to say, they were already looking pretty developed even by the mid Carnian Age. However, there had been a considerable propensity for a long time in Palaeontology, for many creatures we'd now consider to be related Archosaurian Dinosauromorphs, rather than true Dinosaurs, to be simply referred to as Dinosaurs. This continued to cause confusion as in reality, no true Dinosaurs were definitively known from before about 225 million years ago, that is, until the likes of Herrerasaurus and Eoraptor came to light. Now we know the Dinosaurs were at least 233 million years old, and likely a few million years at least, older than that. There are more recently claims of South African and Malagasy (Madagascan) fossils to stretch back into the Ladinian Age, and some even claiming Anisian. Which in other words, means Dinosaurs over 240-245 Ma. Which, I do not adhere to. This seems dubious in my view, as I'd argue true Dinosaurs likely did evolve from Dinosauromorph Archosauromorph Archosaurs, around the early Carnian Age (although I am not going to reject the idea of a Ladinian Age true Dinosaur, it would not necessarily have enough of the diagnostic characteristics of a true Dinosaur, and more likely demonstrate another transition fossil species on the way to something more like a true Dinosaur) For an example of this matter, the Dinosauromorph known as Saltopus, was long considered to be a Dinosaur in many books for years, until it was gradually realised to be slightly too primitive to fit the diagnostic description of one, anatomically. In a sense, what is attempted in the pursuit of the earliest Dinosaurs, in a taphonomically fraught fossil record, is the search for 'Dinosaur Zero'. And good luck with that; because finding the exact earliest origin point of Dinosaurs, is of course going to be tough. Necessarily, it will be borderline so primitive by Dinosaurian standards, as so to be scarcely discernible from out of a myriad of closely related Dinosauromorph kin and likely direct progenitors. When and where this happened isn't exactly known, though can be inferred quite reasonably to the Carnian Age in general, though with potential Ladinian Age origins. That said, we have a strong idea that it may have been more likely Dinosaurs evolved first in what was then Southern (or maybe even more accurately South-Western) Pangaea. Geographical boundaries would have slowed Dinosaur radiation into the Northern Hemisphere as well as there being a range of well-established Archosaurs and Therapsids already there (not to mention various other reptiles and the more ancient Temnospondyl Amphibians) Yes, all of these also lived in the South, though conditions at places like Santa Maria and Ischigualasto (i.e. Carnian Triassic Brazil and Argentina, in Southern Pangaea) were very conducive to the rise of the early Dinosaurs, for whichever reasons. The significance of the Carnian Pluvial Episode, is that it saw heavier precipitation, and humidity, allowing for plentiful wetland and monsoonal like river systems with sweltering conditions under the Triassic Sun and the Carnian thunder. They were well-watered with abundant river channels and wetlands, giving a very different look to the often considered completely barren Triassic, than has often been realised. It has been more well-understood since the matter came into scientific debate from 1989 onward, and although there is still some dispute on how things happened in more depth, the Carnian Pluvial Episode is still generally considered an important aspect of the potential acceleration of Dinosaur evolution. Dinosaurs were more water efficient to begin with, and had their classic physical advantage of walking with their limbs aligned beneath their bodies and not in a less energy efficient sprawling gait. During the Carnian, the conditions were very rainy and this may well have made places like Santa Maria, a perfect testbed for the then new Dinosaurs to flourish. Speculatively one might argue that some Dinosaurs had their first starts in places where Dinosaurs could be even more important palaeoecologically. Conditions were still generally hot and dry across the Triassic, with conditions getting much drier again in the Norian Age, though it is possible the Carnian Pluvial Episode helped them in their early days.

I've long looked at this question, because it is one of my favourite dinosaur fossils with the number of its digits alone! Strange that with all we know, we don't really know this. Exciting topic.

Thank you for bringing attention to Argentine palaeontology! It is really underrated and has produced so much important information about the evolutionary history of life on Earth.

Good to see that AK daddy finally got the recognition he deserves, although, not in the way I thought he would.

The uncredited sculpture in your opening montage appears to be a Stephen Czerkas sculpture - a whole video about the Argentinian Carnian age fauna would be an interesting video that would fit in well with this one

Weird thing that this is the dinosaur that to me looks the most like a jp raptor

Paleontologists: "It's a new day. Time to find a new way. To classify Herrerasaurus. YAY!"

Hi Ben, what about a video about ammonites?

There's probably as many discoveries to be made in the depths of a museum basement as there are in the field! 😂

One of my favorite Triassic dinosaurs Except Eorapror, this was the other one I ever knew of

Wait they named it after the rancher?! I would’ve thought they’d name it after themselves, that so nice

It's strange that I learn on the internet more than I ever did in school. As a paleo nerd I found this very fascinating.

You guys are fun to watch, once you get over your initial hesitations. Have as much fun as possible, and resist over-editing out of blooper material. I'm 66, and love to see your youthful enthusiasm! Ball-cap guy is especially terrific! (Sorry I missed his name) Carry on lads!

It was damn cool, that’s what it was.

An excellent video, a great example of how the dinosaur research is incomplete and more research is needed, interesting story ✌️♥️🇬🇧

I remember reading about this animal some years ago, so your video has been most welcome.

Man, Ben has gotten so damn good at this!! Well done, sir!

That was a lot deeper dive than I anticipated. That said, I really appreciated it. I think I underestimated the crazy history it has.

What i thought was interesting was that within the Isitlschigualasto formation herrasaurus is only present: and rather common in the middle member of the formation. A period distinctive for the climate changing from balmy and warm to being really quite cold (average yearly tempeeture of ~12'C)for a few million years. What is interesting as well i this change seemed to not have at all effected the giant rausuchian apex predators. When the tempretures warmed again the giant rauisuchians kept their place but herrasaurus disappeared.

I traveled to the Ichigualasto National park for my birthday this year. It was beautiful, the museum was fun, we got to see the rock formations, a couple of native art and i bought a book about the local wildlife of today and the past.

You dedication to teach is very evident by your preparation and presentation! I love a professor/instructor with such enthusiasm so lacking in some classrooms!

I'm glad youtube randomly recommended this to me

So fascinating! Great job.

Your videos are always fun. Great job ✨️

My favourite dinosaur 😍

Thanks for your great work!

This an excellent account; a good summary of most of the arguments.

Great video. Always enjoy your work. Cheers

Great topic and awesome news. I love this lean setup yet detailed and rich in content

Thanks for doing a video about one of my fav Dinosaurs! 🦕 🦖

1:04 To me, the Herrerasaurus looks just like the reptilian Velociraptor from Jurassic Park, minus the raptor claw.

Loved it! ❤

Love this channel

Thank you. That was informative.

Great vid! Thank you! I know very little about dinosaur phylogeny. I hear words tossed about but have no idea as to their relationships. This vid was enlightening.

Come to our museum, The Yorkshire Natural History Museum! We have the UK (and Europes) first public preperation lab and loads of exciting specimens. We'd be more than happy to give you a tour + more! I believe you know Kyle?

Nice Video, the starts of dino Evolution are really intresting.

Thank you for the video .

Great video, my lad.

What a beautiful creature.

basil dinos around the split between sauropods and therapods are my favorates because of stuff like this, but there is basically NO good videos on the topic nowadays. great to see this, and i would LOVE to see more on similar topics and/or early sauropods/their ancestors in general!

Thanks for this video. I’ve been curious about this ever since the 2017 paper came out

Yay! More videos.

Just as we think we have it all figured out!? New evidence and advancements in technology can and will keep our theories and opinions fluid. Love the content my friend. Best regards from north eastern Oregon ✌🏼😎🇺🇸

I now have a new favorite dinosaur, great video!

Amazing video.

Very cool video, ahhh would be amazing to see these creatures in real life

Starting to love Triassic dinos, great work!

Cool! I enjoy learning about animals and the history of them 🍀🍀🍀

When was i kid herrerasaurs were theropods. Now they are basal eusaruichians distinct from theropods and sauropodomorphs. One recent study found them to not even be dinosaurs, instead being the sister lineage to dinosauria. Phylogeny changes all the time with new studies.

I hope you do a long form video on new developments in ornithischian phylogenetics!

Believe it or not, i came from jurassic park the game (2011) because this dinosaur seemed so weird to me since i never seen it before, great video by the way👍

Okay, I can't be the only one clicking this and really, kinda, hoping that it would be some kind of TRex cousin dual wielding an AK-50 and TOOB. More seriously, love your content. Been quietly watching it for years now. Keep it coming.

The display @ 0:25 is from The Field museum in Chicago. I was really excited to see it when I was there this January!

can u cover the ornitischian silessauride lineage controversy? seems like a great follow up to this video

A Saurus from Herrera right?

Great job! a killler look and a killer mind =)

Love these examinations of basal (or maybe less basal) animals. I know nothing about where groups fall in the evolutionary tree so seeing what they are categorized upon is an education.

Herrerasaurus, also known as the AK dinosaur

Herrerasaurus, the ancestor of all the famous Theropods.

For some reason Argentina seems to have some of the oldest known dinosaurs within its rock formations, like Herrerasaurus and Eoraptor. Makes one wonder if Dinosaurs first evolved in what is present day Argentina.

I have loved dinosaurs since I was about 3 or 5 an as I got older my love for these creatures growed.

Great video can't get enough lessons on prehistoric life also paleoart.

This is confusing but I'm here for it!

Maybe they both branches long necks and 2 leg Sharptooth

I heard for the first time about herrerasaurus in 1991 reading the a very interesting article about ancient alluvial plain of the world. At that time its position in the philogenetic tree of dinosaurs was so unknowed that some paleontologist collocated it in a special clade of archosaurs

So, Herrerasaurus, are you a theropod or a sauropod? Herrerasaurus: Yes.

That jawline though 😍

Quality video

finally my favourite dino

Wow never thought this thing was that cryptic

There was also a paper a few years back that classified Herrerasaurus as a dinosauromorph and put it outside the Dinosaur family tree. However, I believe it has since been heavily criticized.

Wow interesting

My last name is Herrera, this is now my favorite dinosaur.

Fun fact: while the Triassic is usually depicted as dry and very hot (because Pangea had lots of desert) the ecosystem that Herrerasaurus and the other animals mentioned was actually pretty chilly due to its high altitude. Makes me reckon they all probably had feathers or fur of some kind.

What o find interesting is some old artwork or Megalosaurus looks very similar to how Herrerasaurus actually is. Its kinda eerie in a way.

Any chance for a video on Dryptosaurus?

Hi ben

A Spinosurus and a Herrerasaurus walk into a bar...

New dinosaur discovered in 2022: 1. Jakapil Kaniukura 2. Daurlong Wangi 3. Transylvanosaurus Platycephalus 4. Daspletosaurus Wilsoni

The guy from Juarassic World Evolution 2 that’s whay

I want a full length biographical film on José Bonaparte. He gives vibes.

Did anyone think of just asking a Herrerasaurus?

Where do you find all these neat species? I find it difficult to find any info on obscure species that I do not know about, everything is flooded by the well known dinosaurs. Books, websites, etc.

I always liked Herrerasaurus. Especially with Franco Tempesta's depiction of it in the book _The Ultimate Dinopedia_ , it just was really cool to me. And of course, its position in saurian evolution is really interesting!

Having reviewed all the evidence, I believe that Herrerasaurus is, in fact, an animal.

South America be like: South America: Wanna see me completely shake up entire orders within Dinosauria and Dinosauria itself? South America: *Wanna see me do it again?*

Spinosaurus : i Am the eldritch dinosaur who broke dinosaur paleonthology Herrerasaurus : hold my lizard

Paleontologist: We have a new dinosaur, at least we think its a dinosaur, but we don't know what family it belongs to. We're going to name it Herrerasaurus. Herrerasaurus: *Stamping feet* "I AM a dinosaur and a pretty cute one at that". 50 years later: Paleontologist 1: It's a therapod. Paleontologist 2: It's a basal type dinosaur. Paleontologist 3: It's an early saurischian. Paleontologst 4: It's an ornithischian. Herrerasaurus: Keep trying. I'm going to be your worst nightmare mystery.

Basically we need to test its DNA (and that of other dinosaurs) to make a good cladogram. Who has a time machine we can use? It's got to have at least a 600 million year range to it.