Pronunciation: moo-SAN-go
Meaning: for Musango
Author/s: Barrett et al. (2026)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
Acta Ordinal: #1234
Musango matusadonaensis
(for Musango, from Matusadona)Etymology
Musango is named for the Musango Archosaur Site, situated in the Musango Concession Area, approximately 1km south of Musango Safari Camp on Musango Island. Musango is a ChiShona word that can be translated as "living in the bush", referring to its remote location.
The species epithet, matusadonaensis, is derived from "Matusadona" (for the nearby Matusadona National Park) and the Latin "-ensis" (from).
Discovery
The remains of Musango were discovered at the "Musango Archosaur Site" in the Pebbly Arkose Formation (Mid-Zambezi Basin) on the southern margin of Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, and excavated by a South African/Zimbabwean-led expedition in March 2018.
The holotype (NHMZ 2583) consists of five back vertebrae, at least two hip vertebrae, at least 15 tail vertebrae, rib fragments, three partial chevrons, a left shoulder girdle, an incomplete left upper arm, one hand claw, two pelvic bones, a partial right shin and calf, a left ankle and heel, left metatarsal V, one toe, and various indeterminate bone fragments.
Preparator
Mabote Louw of the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
