Fun Aetonyx Facts For Kids

An herbivore genus of the prosauropod masospondidium dinosaur, the Aetonyx (scientific name: Aetonyx palustris) belonged to the Early Jurassic period that spanned from 201.3-174.1 million years ago. The dinosaur was discovered by a South African paleontologist Robert Broom in 1911 and referred to it to be a carnosaur by examining two hands, a partial tibia, and some vertebrae. The foot remains of the dinosaur were found in South Africa.

The term Aetonyx has been derived from the Greek words 'Aetos' and 'Nychia' which mean 'claws' and 'eagle' and when combined, Aetonyx means 'eagle's claws'.

Like other species of the Prosauropoda, very little information regarding the diet is available, but the dinosaur may have been an herbivore. Although there is a consensus that most of the Prosauropoda were herbivores, studies reveal that some species may have developed meat-eating habits.

The fossils suggest that the species had a moderately elongated neck and thin legs which must have helped it to move firmly. Formerly, it was believed that the species was an omnivore, but recent studies reveal that the species was a carnivore as it possessed large claws and sharp teeth which helped it to hunt or prey easily. The average weight and length of the species are 286.6-297.6 lb (130-135 kg) and 13-20 ft (4-6 m), respectively, while the average height is estimated to be around 7-8 ft (2-2.5 m).

Let's read more fun facts about the Aetonyx, and if you find this article interesting, don't forget to check out exciting facts about different animals like Blikanasaurus and Camelotia.

How do you pronounce 'Aetonyx'?

The pronunciation of the dinosaur's name seems to be a bit difficult and we are here to make it a little easier for kids. We are going to tell you a simple trick that can be applied to the pronunciation of all the names. You just have to break the whole term into several syllables like 'a-to-nihks' to make it quite easy. The term Aetonyx has been derived from the Greek words 'Aetos' and 'Nychia' which mean 'claws' and 'eagle' and when combined, the meaning of Aetonyx is 'eagle's claws'.

What type of dinosaur was an Aetonyx?

The Aetonyx dinosaur belonged to the class of Reptilia, the infraorder of Prosauropoda, the family of Massospondylidae, and the Aetonyx genus. The species was discovered by a South African paleontologist, Robert Broom. The scientific name of the species is Aetonyx palustris.

In which geological period did Aetonyx roam the Earth?

These dinosaurs belonged to the Early Jurassic period that spanned from 201.3-174.1 million years ago; the first floor of the Jurassic age is also known as the Hettangian age. During this period, these dinosaurs may have roamed throughout the African continent.

When did the Aetonyx become extinct?

Studies reveal that these dinosaurs lived around 198 million years ago while the reasons for extinction are not known. Generally, dinosaurs became Extinct due to several natural calamities such as drought, volcanic eruption, asteroid impact, climate change, and many more. It is also said that many dinosaurs died due to rivalry, they used to fight with their potential competitors.

Where did Aetonyx live?

The dinosaur was first found in Africa, primarily in the southern vicinity of the continent. It can be said that, apart from South Africa, the dinosaur must have lived in other neighboring countries as well. A South African paleontologist, Robert Broom found the fossil of Aetonyx palustris dinosaur in South Africa.

What was the Aetonyx's habitat?

It is said that the Aetonyx palustris species must have inhabited tropical grassland, coastal areas, and desert. Their sharp teeth suggest that they may have preyed on small mammals living in grasslands.

Who did Aetonyx live with?

Very little information regarding the Aetonyx palustris social behavior is known as of now, but like other carnivore dinosaurs, they must have hunted in packs. Generally, adult dinosaurs used to live with their young ones until they reach adulthood. Also, they must have formed pairs during the breeding season.

How long did an Aetonyx live?

No information regarding the life span of Aetonyx palustris is available as of now, but since it is a smaller species, it must have lived quite less. Also, the life span of dinosaurs was highly influenced by competition among them.

How did they reproduce?

The Aetonyx palustris must have reproduced like other species of the Massospondylus group. Like modern-day reptiles and birds, dinosaurs also used to reproduce by laying eggs. They also performed several courtship displays to attract potential partners and males must have fought over females.

The clutch size of Massospondylus dinosaurs generally varies from 30-34 eggs and the same nesting site was used every year. The sedimentary structure indicates that the nesting site was in the vicinity of a lake. The eggshells were quite thin which would have helped in gas exchange even in a low oxygen or carbon dioxide-rich environment.

What did Aetonyx look like?

As per the information drawn out from fossils of the dinosaur, one can observe a moderately elongated neck and thin legs which must have helped in moving without any difficulty. It possessed a small head while the body was slender. Formerly, it was said that the Massospondylus species were quadrupedal but a study of 2007 suggests that these dinosaurs were bipedal.

How many bones did an Aetonyx have?

No information regarding the bones of the Aetonyx dinosaur has been found as of now, but the dinosaur possessed elongated vertebrae similar to the Massospondylus dinosaur.

How did they communicate?

Like modern-day animals, these dinosaurs used similar methods to communicate with each other. Visual, tactile, and auditory cues were used to communicate with each other. Some scientists believed that dinosaurs used to roar, but it is not true. They must have used several courtship displays during the breeding season.

How big was the Aetonyx?

The average weight and length of the species are 286.6-297.6 lb (130-135 kg) and 13-20 ft (4-6 m), respectively, while the average height is estimated to be around 7-8 ft (2-2.5 m). The dinosaur was twice the size of Parvicursor and Saltopus.

How fast could an Aetonyx move?

No information regarding the Aetonyx speed is available as of now, but the species had thin legs which must have helped in moving firmly. The species was one of the energetic dinosaurs of the Early Jurassic period.

How much did an Aetonyx weigh?

The average weight of the dinosaur is said to be around 286.6-297.6 lb (130-135 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

No information regarding the male or female names has been gathered as of now; people generally call the dinosaur by the name, Aetonyx palustris.

What would you call a baby Aetonyx?

Like modern-day reptiles, the babies of Aetonyx are known as hatchlings.

What did they eat?

Formerly, it was believed that the species was an omnivore, but recent studies reveal that the species was a carnivore. The dinosaur must have preyed on fish, small mammals, and invertebrates.

How aggressive were they?

No information regarding the aggressive or violent nature of the dinosaur is available as of now. They generally roamed in herds and they may have attacked intruders while avoiding predation.

Did you know...

The young Massospondylus dinosaurs had no teeth which suggests that they had no way of feeding themselves. Studies also reveal that postnatal care must have been necessary and adults must have fed them for some period. Also, young dinosaurs were quadrupedal, unlike adults.

Why are they called Aetonyx?

The term Aetonyx has been derived from the Greek words 'Aetos' and 'Nychia' which mean 'claws' and 'eagle' and when combined, Aetonyx means 'eagle's claws'.

Would Aetonyx bite?

As per the information, the dinosaur was a carnivore and possessed sharp teeth. If the dinosaur was alive today, it would have been one of the dangerous medium-sized creatures.

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 Amazonsaurus facts, or Argyrosaurus facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Aetonyx coloring pages.

Main image by Nobu Tamura.

Second image by Emily Willoughby.

*We've been unable to source an image of Aetonyx and have used an image of Massospondylus instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Aetonyx, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected].