Abelisaurus (Translingual)
Where does "Abelisaurus" come from?
The genus name 'Abelisaurus' is a modern scientific construction originating in the late twentieth century to describe a ceratosaur dinosaur found in Argentina. It is formed by combining the surname of the discoverer, Roberto Abel, with the suffix 'saurus' derived from the Greek word for 'lizard'. The resulting name literally translates to 'Abel's lizard' and serves as a taxonomic tribute to the researcher who first brought the remains of this Cretaceous creature to scientific light.
Full etymology tree
- Abelisaurus (Translingual), 'A taxonomic genus within the clade Saurischia – a ceratosaur dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina.'
- compound Roberto Abel (Translingual)
- compound -saurus (Translingual), 'Forms genus names of lizards.'
- inherited σαῦρος (saûros) (Ancient Greek), 'alternative form of σαύρᾱ (saúrā, “lizard”)'
Ancestors
- -saurus (Translingual)
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris