Ceratonykus

Ce-rat-on-y-kus.
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Emily Green

Paleobotanist

Emily Green brings the ancient world of plants to life through her insightful research and engaging writing. Her expertise lies in examining how prehistoric vegetation influenced climate patterns and animal evolution.

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Name

Ceratonykus ‭(‬Horned claw‭)‬.

Phonetic

Ce-rat-on-y-kus.

Named By

V.‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Alifanov‭ & ‬R.‭ ‬Barsbold‭ ‬-‭ ‬2009.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Theropoda,‭ ‬Alvarezsauridae.

Diet

Insectivore‭?

Species

C.‭ ‬oculatus‭

Size

Estimated‭up to 75 centimetres long.

Known locations

Mongolia‭ ‬-‭ ‬Barun Goyot Formation.

Time Period

Campanian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Partial post cranial remains.

In Depth

       Although based upon incomplete remains,‭ ‬Ceratonykus is known to have been one of the alvarezsaurs.‭ ‬Other alvarezsaurs from the same formation include Parvicursor and possibly Mononykus.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Ceratonykus oculatus gen.‭ ‬et sp.‭ ‬nov.,‭ ‬a new dinosaur‭ (? ‬Theropoda,‭ ‬Alvarezsauria‭) ‬from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Paleontological Journal‭ ‬43‭(‬1‭)‬:94-106.‭ ‬-‭ ‬V.‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Alifanov‭ & ‬R.‭ ‬Barsbold‭ ‬-‭ ‬2009.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT