Eodromaeus

E-oh-dro-may-us.
By Maeve Foster
Published on

Maeve Foster

Paleoclimatologist

Maeve Foster explores the Earth's climatic past to understand the forces that shaped life on our planet. Her research into ancient climate events provides valuable context for current environmental challenges.

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Foster, M. (2012, June 21). Eodromaeus. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/eodromaeus/

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Name

Eodromaeus (Dawn Runner).

Phonetic

E-oh-dro-may-us.

Named By

Ricardo N. Martinez, Oscar A. Alcober, Carina E. Colombi, Brian S. Currie, Isabel P. Monta�ez, Paul R. Renne and Paul C. Sereno - 2011.

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

E. murphi

Size

Approximately 1.2 meters long.

Known locations

Argentina, Ischigualasto Formation.

Time Period

Carnian of the Triassic.

Fossil representation

Two individual specimens, one almost complete and articulated.

In Depth

       Eodromaeus is a very exciting find as it may well represent one of the earliest theropods. First thought to have been more fossils of Eoraptor, study by Paul Sereno revealed features not present in Eoraptor. With the fossils realised as a new dinosaur, the fossil description was published with the name Eodromaeus, a name referencing its early entry in the fossil record at the ‘dawn of the dinosaurs’.

       As a theropod, Eodromaeus was bipedal, with smaller fore limbs terminating in hands. The hands of Eodromaeus display the transition from five digits to three, with the fourth and fifth digits being much smaller than the first three.

Further Reading

Further reading- A basal dinosaur from the dawn of the dinosaur era in southwestern Pangaea. Science 331(6014):206-210. – R. N. Martinez, P. C. Sereno, O. A. Alcober, C. E. Colombi, P. R. Renne, I. P. Monta�ez & B. S. Currie – 2011.

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