Pronunciation: RAH-zha-SOR-us
Meaning: Regal lizard
Author/s: Wilson et al. (2003)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Gujarat, India
Acta Ordinal: #533
Rajasaurus narmadensis
(Regal lizard from the Narmada)Etymology
Rajasaurus is a combination of the Sanskrit "Raja" (prince or princely, regal) and the Greek "sauros" (lizard).
The species epithet, narmadensis, is derived from "Narmada" (the valley in which it was discovered) and the Latin "ensis" (from).
Discovery
The remains of Rajasaurus were recovered from a seven meter stretch at the Temple Hill locality of the Lameta Formation, near the village of Rahioli, Narmada River Valley, Kheda district, Gujarat State, India, by Suresh Srivastava (of the Geological Survey of India [GSI] and Ashok Sahni (a paleontologist at Panjab University) during a search for dinosaur eggs and nests between 1982 and 1984.
Dinosaur bones have been reported from this area since the late 19th century.
The holotype (GSI 21141/1-33) is a well-preserved skull with a complete braincase and weird crest, hip bones and parts of the hind legs, backbone and tail.
