Fun Genyodectes Facts For Kids

Genyodectes is a genus of theropod dinosaur of the family Ceratodauridae. The name Genyodectes has two Greek terms, genys meaning 'jaw' and dektes means 'bite.' The dinosaur of this genus is from South America's Lower or Early Cretaceous (Aptian age). The partial holo-type material, MLP 26-39, was found in the Cerro Barcino Formation in Canadon Grande in Departamento Paso de Indios, Chubut Province in Argentina. An incomplete snout (jaws) including portions of both maxillary bones, relatively smooth premaxillary bones, a fragment of left splenial, many teeth, left and right dentary, and fragments of supradentaries was recovered. Genyodectes were considered nomen dubium for a long time as the remains were poorly preserved. After redescription by Rauhut (2004) gave some answers to questions of provenance, establishing Genyodectes serus as the only species. The specific scientific term serus means 'late.' In 1901, Sir Arthur S. Woodward, an English paleontologist, described the Genyodectes name after Loncausarus, making Genyodectes the second non-avian species discovered and named from South America. Rauhut (2004) studied the preservation of the bones and historical records, concluding the holotype specimen might have been recovered from Cerro Castano Member of the Cerro Barcino Formation (Aptian-Albian age).

If you enjoyed reading facts about the Genyodectes dinosaurs, then make sure to check out more fun facts about the Chungkingosaurus and Hesperosaurus on Kidadl.

How do you pronounce 'Genyodectes'?

The pronunciation of Genyodectes is 'Jen-yo-dek-teez.'

What type of dinosaur was a Genyodectes?

Genyodectes is a Theropoda genus of the Ceratosauridae family with the only type species, Genyodectes serus. The holotype, MLP 26-39 (Museo de La Plata, Argentina) is known from partial jaws including few parts like the dentary and maxilla. The fossil material of Genyodectes was poorly preserved and few are in articulation. The name Genyodectes were described by Sir Arthur S. Woodward on the basis of maxilla and premaxilla bones. For a long time, this genus was considered nomen dubium as there were questions about the precise stratigraphic and geographic origins. The data on the provenance and anatomy was given by Oliver Rauhut (2004) in his Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Rauhut also concluded by reevaluation that the remains or fossils of this Ceratosauria dinosaur lacks synapomorphies of tyrannosaurid and abelisaurid but has features of Neoceratosaurian, which implied that these species were closer to Ceratosaurus than to other derived abelisaurs. Until the 1970s, this fossil was the most completely known Theropod of South America.

In which geological period did the Genyodectes roam the earth?

Genyodectes serus (Woodward, 1901) of the Theropoda clade occupied Earth in the Early or Lower Cretaceous around 112 million years ago.

When did the Genyodectes become extinct?

Genyodectes serus (Woodward, 1901) probably became extinct during the mass extinction event of the Cretaceous-Paleogene period around 66 million years ago.

Where did a Genyodectes live?

Genyodectes serus (Woodward, 1901) possibly occurred in the Cerro Barcino Formation in Canadon Grande in Departamento Paso de Indios of Chubut Province located in Argentina where the specimen was collected. For a long time there was no precise data on both the geographical and stratigraphical origins. Rauhut then came up with the conclusion that this holotype specimen was probably collected from Cerro Castano Member that belonged to Cerro Barcino Formation (Aptian-Albian age).

What was a Genyodectes's habitat?

The range of Genyodectes's habitat extends through present-day South America.

Who did a Genyodectes live with?

This theropod dinosaur might have lived in groups like the other dinosaurs.

How long did Genyodectes live?

The average lifespan of this South American theropod dinosaur is not yet known.

How did they reproduce?

The reproduction of these south American theropods was oviparous. There is no data available on their breeding process and incubation period.

What did a Genyodectes look like?

Genyodectes serus (Woodward, 1901) of the Cretaceous period was described by partial jaws and other Genyodectes fossil elements recovered from Argentina. These dinosaurs were identical to Ceratosaurus. Their teeth were sticking out and relatively big. Rauhut also noted and diagnosed the description of Genyodectes serus as differing from the other theropods with a probable exception of the Ceratosaurus species in which premaxillary teeth are arranged in a way to overlap on top of each other in an 'en-echelon pattern' and the crowns of their longest maxillary tooth are longer (in apicobasal direction) than the mandible's minimum dorsoventral depth. He also noted that this differs from the Ceratosaurus species in the number of premaxillary teeth, which is four in Genyodectes but three in Ceratosaurus.

How many bones did a Genyodectes have?

The exact number of bones in Genyodectes' skeleton is not yet known, although these remains were the most completely known for years. The remains (fossils) of this cretasauria theropod that were found was an incomplete snout or jaw, including parts of both maxillary bones, relatively smooth premaxillary bones, a fragment of left splenial, many teeth, left and right dentary, and fragments of supradentaries. These materials are generally poorly preserved.

How did they communicate?

These dinosaurs might have communicated through body language, calls, and songs like the other dinosaur species.

How big was a Genyodectes?

The size of these dinosaurs was around 20.5 ft (6.25 m) in length. The data on height, however, is not available. Compared to these species, Spinosaurus dinosaurs were almost twice their size.

How fast could a Genyodectes move?

The maximum speed of these dinosaurs is not known.

How much did a Genyodectes weigh?

These dinosaurs weighed around 1741.6 lb (790 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

There is no sex-specific name given to the male or female of this dinosaur species.

What would you call a baby Genyodectes?

There is no specific name given to a baby Genyodectes.

What did they eat?

Genyodectes' diet was carnivorous. They might have fed on smaller dinosaurs. There is no further data available on their diet.

How aggressive were they?

There is not enough data on how aggressive these dinosaurs were. However, they might have hunted for food aggressively.

Did you know...

Ceratosauridae consists of four genera, Ostafrikasaurus, Eobelisaurus, Ceratosaurus, along Genyodectes. Most species of Ceratosauridae occupied Tendaguru and Morrison, which put them alongside other large predatory dinosaurs. So, there is a high possibility that they competed with other dinosaurs for food. Two types of teeth have been recorded: one with the veined enamel and the other consisting of longitudinal ridges. Both these types of teeth have teardrop-shaped crosssections on their crowns with carinae extending through the middle.

A synonym of Genyodectes is the Loncosaurus, which is a semi-popular assignment but not currently followed. The meaning of the name Loncosaurus is not clear, either lance in Greek means 'lizard' or Araucanian 'chief.'

Its relative, the Ceratosaurus, was described by Othniel Charles Marsh, an American paleontologist in 1884 on the basis of almost complete fossil remains collected from the Golden Park, Colorado within the rocks from the Morisson Formation.

Where are Genyodectes fossils commonly found?

The Genyodectes fossils were found in the Cerro Barcino Formation (Aptian- Albian age) Chubut Province of Argentina.

How strong were their teeth?

These species had teeth similar to the teeth of Ceratosaurus. So, the teeth were robust and were probably used to pierce or bite their prey.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Crichtonsaurus facts and Yinlong facts for kids.

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