Eodromaeus
| Eodromaeus Temporal range: Carnian
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|---|---|
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| Restored skeleton | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Genus: | †Eodromaeus Martinez et al. 2011 |
| Species: | †E. murphi
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| Binomial name | |
| Eodromaeus murphi Martinez et al. 2011
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Eodromaeus (meaning "dawn runner") is an extinct genus of basal theropod dinosaur from the Upper Triassic of Argentina.[1] 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".[2] It is the earliest known definite theropod.
Description
[change | change source]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.[3] 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.[1]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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. doi:10.1126/science.1198467. hdl:11336/69202. PMID 21233386. S2CID 33506648.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Bowdler, Neil 2011. BBC News Science & Environment. "'Dawn runner casts light on birth of the dinosaurs", www.bbc.co.uk, 13-1-2011.
- ↑ Weise E, "New dog-sized dinosaur discovered", www.usatoday.com, 23-01-2011.