The Podokesaurus was a small theropod that lived in what is now the Eastern United States during the Middle Jurassic Period, which was approximately 195 million years ago. The dinosaur also belonged to the subfamily Coelophysoidea.
Key facts
| Domain | Description |
|---|---|
| Podokesaurus pronunciation | Po-doh-kee-sore-us |
| What does Podokesaurus mean? | Swift-footed lizard |
| Dinosaur type | Theropod |
| On the menu | Carnivore |
| Length | 3’ (0.9 meters) |
| Height | 1’ (0.3 meters) |
| Weight | 100 lbs (40 kg) |
| Life expectancy | Unknown |
| Legs used to get around | Bipedal |
| Estimated top speed | 12 mph (19 km/h) |
| When they lived | Middle Jurassic Period, about 195-180 million years ago. |
| Where they have been found? | Massachusetts, in the United States. |
When & Where
In 1910, remains of the Podokesaurus were discovered in Mount Holyoke, in the state of Massachusetts in Northeastern USA by American geologist Mignon Talbot.
Size & Weight
Based on the research the Podokesaurus is believed to have been 3 feet (0.9meters) long with a height of 1 foot (0.3 meters) and weighing around 100lbs (45kg).
Mobility & Diet
The Podokesaurus was a carnivorous dinosaur. Being named “swift-footed lizard”, the Podokesaurus was an extremely fast dinosaur. Its estimated top speed was 12 miles per hour or 19 kilometers per hour and they are believed to have hunted smaller animals.
Interesting Points
- There has only been one specimen of this dinosaur found by paleontologists
- Remains of the Podokesaurus were preserved at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. But these remains were destroyed by a fire decades ago, leaving only casts of the specimen.
Featured Image Credit: FunkMonk (Michael B. H.), CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
