Eodromaeus

Eodromaeus
Temporal range: Carnian
~231.4–229 Ma
↓
Restored skeleton
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Genus: †Eodromaeus
Martinez et al. 2011
Species:
†E. murphi
Binomial name
Eodromaeus murphi
Martinez et al. 2011

Eodromaeus (meaning "dawn runner") is an extinct genus of basal theropod dinosaur from the Upper Triassic of Argentina. An almost complete articulated skeleton (the bones were still mostly connected) was found in 1996.

Eodromaeus has been cited by Paul Sereno as "close to the root of the dinosaurs". It is the earliest known definite theropod.

Description

Eodromaeus was a relatively small dinosaur, with a total length of about 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) from nose to tail, and a weight of about 5 kilograms (11 lb). The trunk was long and slender. It is unknown how fast Eodromaeus could run: about 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) has been suggested. The animal was, like all early dinosaurs, bipedal. The forelimbs were much shorter than the hindlimbs, ending in hands with five digits. Digits IV and V were very reduced in size.

References

  1. 1 2 Martinez, Ricardo N. et al 2011 A basal dinosaur from the dawn of the dinosaur era in Southwestern Pangaea (2011). "A Basal Dinosaur from the Dawn of the Dinosaur Era in Southwestern Pangaea". Science. 331 (6014): 206–210. Bibcode:2011Sci...331..206M. doi:10.1126/science.1198467. hdl:11336/69202. PMID 21233386. S2CID 33506648.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Bowdler, Neil 2011. BBC News Science & Environment. "'Dawn runner casts light on birth of the dinosaurs", www.bbc.co.uk, 13-1-2011.
  3. ↑ Weise E, "New dog-sized dinosaur discovered", www.usatoday.com, 23-01-2011.