Aardonyx

Say it like this: “ar-don-ix”

Aardonyx celestae

Aardonyx ate plants and walked on two or four legs. It lived in the Early Jurassic. Bones have been found in South Africa.

Quiz me on Aardonyx

When: Early Jurassic (Hettangian · Sinemurian) · roughly 201.4 to 192.9 million years ago
Named in: 2010 · Yates, A. M.; Bonnan, M. F.; Neveling, J.; Chinsamy, A.; Blackbeard, M. G.
Hip height: 2 m · 7 ft
Length: 8 m · 26 ft
Weight: Not established
Found in: South Africa · Elliot
Food and walking: Herbivore · Two or four legs
Kind: early long-neck · Sauropodomorph
Family branch: Sauropodiformes

The story in short

Aardonyx was formally named in 2010 by A. M. Yates and colleagues.

Fossils referred to Aardonyx date to the Early Jurassic (Hettangian · Sinemurian), roughly 201.4 to 192.9 million years ago. Finds come from South Africa, including the Elliot Formation. It was a herbivore and could move on two or four legs.

Published estimates put Aardonyx at a length near 8 m and hips about 2 m high.

On the family tree it sits in Sauropodiformes, among the early long-necked dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Anchisaurus

Anchisaurus polyzelus

Early Jurassic (Hettangian · Sinemurian) · roughly 201.4 to 192.9 million years ago

Blikanasaurus

Blikanasaurus cromptoni

Late Triassic (Norian · Rhaetian) · roughly 227.3 to 201.4 million years ago

Camelotia

Camelotia borealis

Late Triassic (Rhaetian) · roughly 205.7 to 201.4 million years ago