Sereno, Paul (1957-…), an American scientist and educator, has discovered important fossils of dinosaurs and other extinct creatures. Sereno is a paleontologist (scientist who studies prehistoric life).
Sereno made his first major discovery in 1988 in Argentina. He found a skeleton of Herrerasaurus—an early meat-eating dinosaur—that was more complete and better preserved than any previously found. In 1991, Sereno’s team discovered a fossil of the previously unknown Eoraptor, another early meat-eating dinosaur, in the same area.
Sereno has found several other previously unknown dinosaurs, including Afrovenator and Carcharodontosaurus, both large meat-eating dinosaurs. His other discoveries include Jobaria, a plant-eater that was up to 70 feet (21 meters) long, and Suchomimus, an unusual fish-eating dinosaur with huge claws and a sail-shaped growth on its back.
In 2000, Sereno and his team discovered several fossils of one of the largest crocodiles that ever lived. The giant crocodile, called Sarcosuchus, may have reached 40 feet (12 meters) long, about the length of a bus. It lived about 110 million years ago.
In addition to his academic research, Sereno has published a number of articles for the general public. In 1999, he cofounded Project Exploration, a group dedicated to promoting scientific education to the public, especially middle school and high school students.
Paul Callistus Sereno was born Oct. 11, 1957, in Aurora, Illinois. He attended Northern Illinois University before earning his doctorate in geology at Columbia University in 1987. He then became a member of the faculty at the University of Chicago.
