The Piatnitzkysaurus was a large theropod that lived during the Late Jurassic Era, approximately 164 million years ago. This dinosaur belonged to the Piatnitzkysauridae family which consisted of other similar dinosaurs such as the Condorraptor, Marshosaurus.
Key facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Piatnitzkysaurus pronunciation | Ye-at-nits-key-sore-us |
| What does Piatnitzkysaurus mean? | Piatnitzky’s lizard |
| Dinosaur type | Theropod |
| On the menu | Carnivore |
| Length | 21.7 feet (6.6 meters) |
| Height | 8 feet (2.5 meters) |
| Weight | 1000 lb (450 kgs) |
| Life expectancy | 20-30 years |
| Legs used to get around | Bipedal |
| Estimated top speed | Unknown |
| When they lived | Late Jurassic Period, about 164-159 million years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Argentina |
When & Where
The subadult remains of the Piatnitzkysaurus, were found during the years 1977, 1982, and 1983 in the Canadon Asfalto Formation located in Patagonia, Argentina. The remains that were discovered contained two partial skeletons, which helped describe the dinosaur in 1979 by Jose Bonaparte, an Argentinian Paleontologist.
Size & Weight
Although the remains of the Piatnitzkysaurus that were discovered were of a subadult dinosaur, it is estimated that the length of an adult was 6.6 meters (21’8” ), the weight 450 kilograms (1000 kgs), and the height 8 ‘ (2.5 meters).
Mobility & Diet
The Piatnitzkysaurus was believed to be great at hunting. This dinosaur was a carnivore and preyed on smaller dinosaurs. Studies show that the Piatnitzkysaurus did not hunt in groups and was believed to have been scavengers of nearby dead dinosaurs.
Interesting Point
- The braincase that had been discovered from the remains of the Piatnitzkysaurus were then found to look like another megalosauridae, which is the Piveteausaurus from France.
Featured Image Credit: Paleocolour, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
