Masiakasaurus was a genus of small predatory theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Masiakasaurus means \"vicious lizard.\" It was named after musician Mark Knopfler, whose music inspired the 2001 expedition crew by Scott D. Sampson, Matthew Carrano and Catherine A. Forster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masiakasaurus was a strange-looking ceratosaurus with a small body. It could reach about 1.8 to 2 meters in length. It had front teeth that projected forward, or procumbent, rather than downward. These teeth were long and spoon-shaped with hooked edges designed to tear fish and other small prey. It ran on two legs, or bipeds. It also had shorter forelimbs than hind limbs. They had a long, low skull. The back of their neck was positioned almost horizontally, giving it a slight curve. It had a long tail that helped them to balance. According to M. Knopfleri, an adult Masiakasaurus could reach 90 kilos or the size of a huge dog. It also reproduced by laying eggs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n