Genus: Dawazisaurus CHENG, WU, SATO, & SHAN, 2016
Etymology: The generic name is derived from the Chinese pinyin of Dawazi (Daaozi) village near which the famus Luopoing Biota, Yunnan Province, China, which was recently developed, and Greek, sauros, "lizard."

Species: brevis CHENG, WU, SATO, & SHAN, 2016
Etymology: Latin, brevis, "short." The specific name is derived from the short trunk which consists of only 16 vertebrae, representing the smallest number of the dorsal series of the vertbral column among known non-placodontiform sauropterygians.

Holotype: NMMNS000933-F034397

Locality: Near Dawazi (Da'aozi) Village, Luoping County, Yunnan Province, China.

Horizon: Upper Member (Member II), Guanling Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Middle Anisian Stage, Lower Mid Triassic, Lower Middle Triassic.

Material: Skull and skeleton.