Antetonitrus

Say it like this: “an-TEE-toh-NIGH-trus”

Antetonitrus ingenipes

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

Quiz me on Antetonitrus

When: Early Jurassic (Hettangian · Sinemurian) · roughly 201.4 to 192.9 million years ago
Named in: 2003 · Yates, A. M.; Kitching, J. W.
Hip height: 1.5–2 m · 5–7 ft
Length: 8–10 m · 26–33 ft
Weight: 5.6 tonnes
Found in: South Africa · Elliot
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: early long-neck · Sauropodomorph
Family branch: Lessemsauridae

The story in short

Antetonitrus was formally named in 2003 by A. M. Yates and J. W. Kitching. The name means “before thunder.”

Fossils referred to Antetonitrus 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 walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Antetonitrus at a length near 8–10 m, hips about 1.5–2 m high, and a body mass around 5.6 tonnes.

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

Close relatives

Ingentia

Ingentia prima

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

Ledumahadi

Ledumahadi mafube

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

Lessemsaurus

Lessemsaurus sauropoides

Late Triassic (Norian) · roughly 227.3 to 205.7 million years ago