Dino of the Week: Eodromaeus

Type Species: Eodromaeus murphi

Classification: Dinosauria - Saurischia - Theropoda

Time Period: Late Triassic

Location: Argentina

Diet: Carnivore

Eodromaeus name means ‘dawn runner,’ and it’s apt: though for years the Triassic theropod Eoraptor was considered one of the earliest dinosaurs, Eodromaeus appears as to be a better candidate (hence it finds its place at the ‘dawn’ of the dinosaur age; in the words of paleontologist Paul Sereno, it may very well be the ‘Eve’ of the dinosaurs, a common ancestor to all other dinosaurs). As far as running goes, it was a swift runner that could likely clock speeds up to twenty miles per hour, giving Eoraptor – once again! – a run for its money.

Eodromaeus lived in Argentina during the Carnian stage of the Late Triassic around 232-229 mya. When its remains were first discovered, it was thought to belong to a new species of Eoraptor; closer examination showed they belonged to a different creature altogether. Eodromaeus was small, reaching just under four feet head-to-tail, and weighed only about eleven pounds. It was long and slender and able to run on two legs (its hind-limbs were much longer than its front limbs). It had sabre-shaped teeth and sharp-clawed five-fingered hands (though two of its digits were greatly reduced), and it likely preyed upon small or juvenile reptiles.