Ceratonykus

Ce-rat-on-y-kus.
By Benjamin Gutierrez
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Gutierrez, B. (2016, May 27). Ceratonykus. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/ceratonykus/

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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.

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