Unveiling the Mysteries of the Aerosteon: A Theropod from Late Cretaceous Argentina
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The Aerosteon, also known as the Aerosteon riocoloradense, is known to be a theropod found in present-day Argentina. Fossil remains were discovered in the Plottier Formation.
It existed in the Late Cretaceous period.
Not a lot of information can be found on the Aerosteon habitat, but it has been recorded that it used to inhabit terrestrial habitats. This species was known to reproduce sexually and the male used to deposit sperm inside the female body and the female used to lay fertilized eggs that consisted of embryos that were developing.
Not much can be gathered from fossils about the appearance of this dinosaur but bones show air-filled spaces (pneumatization) which also is evidence that this dinosaur had a respiratory air-sac system very similar to that of a modern bird. The Aerosteon weight is known to be around 0.5-1 ton (500-1,000 kg).
This dinosaur was considered to be a meat-eating species.
The first description of this species was done by Paul Sereno. The holotype specimen was named MCNA-PV-3137 and it included a number of complete and partial vertebrae from the back, the neck, the sacrum, dorsal and cervical ribs, the furcula, the gastralia, the left ilium, the scapulocoracoid, and right and left pubes.
Theories of Sereno also state that the respiratory system of this species was used for maintaining the body temperature and also for breathing.
The Murusraptor and the Aerosteon are considered to have a similar structure to their vertebrae and cranial bones. The Aerosteon meaning when translated is 'air borne'.
It is quite fascinating to learn about this theropod and if you are interested, read about the Yinlong and the Sauropelta, too.
Aerosteon Interesting Facts
How do you pronounce 'Aerosteon'?
The Aerosteon pronunciation goes as 'Air-oh-stee-on'.
What type of dinosaur was an Aerosteon?
It is considered to be placed under theropods.
In which geological period did the Aerosteon roam the earth?
It is known to have existed in the Late Cretaceous period.
When did the Aerosteon become Extinct?
The exact time period of the extinction of this dinosaur is unknown.
Where did an Aerosteon live?
It is known to have inhabited Argentina. The fossil and remains were discovered in the Plottier Formation.
What was an Aerosteon's habitat?
Not much information is available about the habitat of the Aerosteon, but it is known to have inhabited terrestrial habitats.
Who did an Aerosteon live with?
Not much information is available about the social behavior of this dinosaur, that is, it is unknown if this dinosaur was solitary or lived in a group.
How long did an Aerosteon live?
It lived from the Campanian age to 70.6 million years ago.
How did they reproduce?
The Aerosteon used to reproduce sexually where the male deposited sperm inside the female body and the female laid eggs that were fertilized and contained embryos that were developing. This process was common among all dinosaurs.
Aerosteon Fun Facts
What did an Aerosteon look like?
Not a lot of information is available about the appearance of the Aerosteon dinosaur, a species of theropods. It has been studied that bones of this dinosaur show air-filled spaces (pneumatization) that is evidence that this dinosaur had a respiratory air-sac system very similar to that of modern birds and did not have lungs, unlike mammals.
How many bones did an Aerosteon have?
The number of bones this dinosaur had is unknown.
How did they communicate?
All dinosaurs were known to communicate through different types of sounds, postures and gestures.
How big was an Aerosteon?
The estimated length of this dinosaur was around 20-25 ft (610-762 cm).
How fast could an Aerosteon move?
The speed of this dinosaur is unknown.
How much did an Aerosteon weigh?
The weight of this dinosaur, which is a species of theropods, is evaluated to be approximately around 0.5-1 ton (500-1,000 kg).
What were the male and female names of the species?
Males and females of this species did not have any specific names.
What would you call a baby Aerosteon?
A baby Aerosteon, just like other baby dinosaurs, is referred to as a hatchling.
What did they eat?
These dinosaurs are known to be meat-eating dinosaurs.
How aggressive were they?
To determine the aggressiveness of this Extinct species is quite difficult, but dinosaurs, in general, were known to be instinctively aggressive and violent.
Did you know...
Fossils and remains were found in the Plottier Formation in 1996, but it was described originally to have come from the Anacleto Formation.
The type species is known as Aerosteon riocoloradense.
The specific name of this species is known to indicate that fossils were found around 0.6 mi (1 km) north of Rio Colarado, in the Mendoza province, part of the Argentina range.
This species is known to have showcased evidence of a respiratory system that is bird-like.
The name of this dinosaur is derived from Greek and when translated, it means 'air borne'.
The first description of this dinosaur was done by Paul Sereno in September 2008 in a paper that was published in an online journal.
The holotype specimen was named MCNA-PV-3137 and it included a number of complete and partial vertebrae from the back, the neck, the sacrum, dorsal and cervical ribs, the furcula, the gastralia, the left ilium, the scapulocoracoid, and right and left pubes.
Studies have indicated that the presence of incomplete fusion of bones was of a dinosaur that was not fully mature.
The Murusraptor and the Aerosteon are considered to have a similar structure to their vertebrae and cranial bones.
The presence of a respiratory system, according to theories of Sereno, was thought to help in maintaining the dinosaur's body temperature and to help its breathing.
It has been noted that no dental material has been found for this species. Isolated bones and material that were found were associated with the holotype, but after research and analysis were found out to be of an abelisaurid theropod.
The species name was known to be originally published as Aerosteon riocoloradensis.
No information is available about the social behavior of these dinosaurs, and thus, it is unknown if these dinosaurs were a social species or not.
Some believe that the Aerosteon represents different basal lineage features.
What terrain did the Aerosteon live in?
These dinosaurs are known to have existed in the Late Cretaceous period and fossils dated to the Santonian age.
Did the Aerosteon hunt?
It is presumed that if this dinosaur was a meat-eating dinosaur, it would have hunted, but not a lot of information is available about its hunting techniques and its features.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Puertasaurus facts, or Tupuxuara facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Aerosteon coloring pages.
We've been unable to source an image of an Aerosteon and have used an image of a theropod instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of an Aerosteon, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com
Aerosteon Facts
What Did They Prey On?
Meatwhat Type of Animal were they?
CarnivoresAverage Litter Size?
N/AWhat Did They Look Like?
N/AHow Much Did They Weigh?
0.5-1 ton (500-1,000 kg)Skin Type
Dry scalesHow Long Were They?
20-25 ft (610-762 cm)How Tall Were They?
N/AKingdom
AnimaliaClass
ReptiliaGenus
AerosteonFamily
MegaraptoridaeScientific Name
Aerosteon riocoloradenseWhat Were Their Main Threats?
N/AWhat Habitat Did They Live In?
Terrestrial habitatsWhere Did They Live?
South America
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