Fun Panphagia Facts For Kids

Panphagia is a genus within the clade of Sauropodomorpha and Saurischia. The remains of species of this genus were discovered in 2009. This fossil specimen was recovered by Ricardo N. Martinez, an Argentinean paleontologist from the rocks of the Ischigualasto Formation of the Valle Pintado in Ischigualasto Provincial Park of San Juan Province in across the northwestern range of Argentina. Panphagia dinosaurs were alive around 231 million years ago. This dinosaur is from the Carnian age of the Late Triassic period, where there is currently northwestern Argentina. The type species of this genus is Panphagia protos. The word Panphagia, derived from two Greek elements, pan means 'all' and the word phagein means 'to eat,' referring to the omnivorous diet of this dinosaur. Also, the specific scientific term protos is a Greek word, which means 'the first,' referring to their basal position. The holotype was named PVSJ 874, which consists of a partially grown dinosaur measuring 4.3 ft (1.3 m) in length. The pelvic girdle, pectoral girdle, vertebrae, hindlimb bones, and parts of the Panphagia skull of this dinosaur were recovered.

If you like these facts about the Panphagia dinosaurs then do read some amazing and fun facts about the Mercuriceratops and Nanosaurus on Kidadl.

How do you pronounce 'Panphagia'?

The pronunciation of Panphagia is 'Pan-fah-eg-ah.'

What type of dinosaur was the Panphagia?

The Panphagia (Panphagia protos) dinosaur of the clade Saurischia was described by Oscar A. Alcober and Ricardo N. Martinez in 2009 and discovered in Ischigualasto Formation. This dinosaur is one of the earliest species and this might mark a major change in the diet of the early sauropodomorph dinosaurs. The fossil remains of these dinosaurs looked similar to that of Eoraptor and Ricardo N. Martinez believed that this skeleton was of the juvenile Panphagia protos. The fossil specimen found was russet-colored and was embedded in a green sandstone matrix. The phylogenetic analysis of these fossils indicated that this species was the most primitive sauropodomorph dinosaur as they shared similar characteristics to Saturnalia, one of the early sauropodomorph dinosaurs.

In which geological period did the Panphagia roam the earth?

Panphagia (Panphagia protos) is from the Carnian age of the Late Triassic period around 231 million years ago.

When did the Panphagia become extinct?

Panphagia protos (Dinosauria: Saurischia) may have become extinct during the mass extinction time period of Cretaceous-Paleogene around 66 million years ago.

Where did the Panphagia live?

The remains of the Panphagia protos (Dinosauria: Saurischia) was found in the Ischigualasto Formation. So, the habitat range of this dinosaur of the Triassic period (Carnian Age) might have been across northwestern Argentina.

What was the Panphagia's habitat?

The range of habitats this sauropodomorph dinosaur (Dinosauria: Saurischia) occupied was mostly terrestrial and woodlands.

Who did the Panphagia live with?

These sauropodomorph dinosaurs (Dinosauria: Saurischia) might have lived and died in groups like the other dinosaurs.

How long did the Panphagia live?

The maximum or average life expectancy of this sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) of the Triassic age is not known.

How did they reproduce?

The reproduction of this sauropodomorph dinosaur is oviparous. However, it has been reported that Sauropodomorphs reach sexual maturity before they fully develop as adults.

What did the Panphagia look like?

These Panphagia dinosaurs of the Sauropodomorpha from the Ischigualasto Formation, San Juan Province were examined from a partial skull and teeth of the lower jaw. These dinosaurs are similar to Saturnlia and Eoraptor. Although the skull resembled that of an Eoraptor, there were also features found that were similar to the basal sauropodomorphs like Plateosaurus. For example, one of the common features was the lower jaw curving downwards facing the front. Panphagia dinosaur species' teeth were also identical to those of prosauropods. Based on these features, the Panphagia dinosaurs seemed more closely related to sauropod dinosaurs than theropods.

How many bones did the Panphagia have?

The number of bones in the skeleton of Panphagia dinosaurs of the Triassic period is not yet known.

How did they communicate?

Panphagia dinosaurs of the Triassic period might have communicated through loud calls, songs, and body language.

How big was Panphagia?

Panphagia protos measured up to 4.3 ft (1.3 m) in length. This skeleton or fossil was thought to be of a juvenile by Ricardo N. Martinez and stating that the adults would be even larger reaching a length of 6 ft (1.8m). These dinosaurs were larger than Eoraptor. Dilophosaurus dinosaurs are almost five times the length of Panphagia dinosaurs.

How fast could the Panphagia move?

It is not yet known how fast these dinosaurs were.

How much did the Panphagia weigh?

The weight of these sauropodomorph dinosaurs is around 17 lb (7.8 kg). These dinosaurs were a lot heavier than Buriolestes dinosaurs.

What were the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names given to the female and male sauropodomorph dinosaurs of the Triassic age.

What would you call a baby Panphagia?

There has not been any particular name given to these baby sauropodomorphs of the Triassic age.

What did they eat?

It is speculated that the diet of these sauropodomorphs of the Triassic period was omnivorous. This was derived from the analysis of their teeth. Their leaf-shaped, broad teeth in the back of their mouth allowed them to slice through plants and leaves. However, the anatomy front teeth allowed them to feed on meat. Also, these sauropodomorph dinosaurs were the link between the early meat-eating theropods and later plant-eating sauropods. So, at some point through their evolution, these species made the switch between a diet consisting of meat to a diet consisting of plants.

How aggressive were they?

It is not yet known how aggressive these dinosaurs were.

Did you know...

There were doubts about the Eoraptor being the oldest dinosaurs after the examination of both this species and Herrerasaurus and later the discovery of Panphagia gave the answers. Eoraptor fossils were also discovered by Ricardo N. Martinez from the University of San Juan in 1991. This specimen measured only about 3 ft (0.9 m) in length and the anatomy of this fossil was less advanced than either Herrerasaurus or Staurikosaurus. Later named Eoraptor meaning 'the dawn thief' in 1993. They were described by Paul Sereno and his colleagues. The only type species of Eoraptor is Eoraptor lunensis. There were multiple tooth shapes in this species indicating that these dinosaurs were omnivorous. These dinosaurs weighed around 22 lb (10 kg). Also, the scientific name of the type species, Eoraptor lunensis translates to 'dawn plundered from the Valley of the Moon.' The term plunderer may refer to their carnivorous diet and their grasping hands. As per Paul Sereno, Eoraptors could be differentiated by the leaf-shaped anterior maxillary and premaxillary teeth, a posterolateral process observed to take place in the premaxillary, and the slightly enlarged external nares. The size of the femur of the holotype PVSJ 512 measured up to 6 in (152 mm) and the tibia measured up to 6.2 in (157 mm), which indicates that these dinosaurs were fast runners.

Sauropodomorpha translates to 'lizard-footed forms.' This group consists of herbivorous long-necked sauropod and saurischian dinosaur species. This group of dinosaurs was the dominant creature in their time in the Mesozoic period, which originated from the mid-Triassic period around 230 million years ago until the mass extinction event by the end of the Cretaceous period. The Panphagia protos along with the Chromogisaurus novasi both found in the same formation (Ischigualasto) were the most primitive and oldest known dinosaurs of this group. Saturnalia species were slender and small dinosaurs, however, by the end of the Triassic period, they became the largest ones of their time period and they kept increasing size throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous period. Some other dinosaurs of this group are Efraasia, Nambalia, Arcusaurus, Pantydraco, and Unaysauridae.

What does 'Panphagia' mean?

This Greek word, Panphagia (pan-phagein) consists of the term pan that means 'all' and the term phagein means 'to eat.' This literally translates to 'eats everything,' referring to their omnivorous or rather changing diet.

How many Panphagia dinosaurs were there?

The exact population number of these dinosaurs of the clade Sauropodomorpha in their time is unknown. However, there was enough number of these species around 231 million years ago.

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 Isanosaurus facts and Puertasaurus facts for kids.

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

Main image by Nobu Tamura.

Second image by Debivort.