Baryonyx
PALAEONTOLOGICAL RECORD
Baryonyx is a genus of theropod dinosaur which lived in the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, about 130–125 million years ago. The first skeleton was discovered in 1983 in the Smokejack Clay Pit, of Surrey, England, in sediments of the Weald Clay Formation, and became the holotype specimen of Baryonyx walkeri, named by palaeontologists Alan J. Charig and Angela C. Milner in 1986. The genus name Baryonyx comes from Ancient Greek βαρύς (barús), meaning "heavy" or "strong", and ὄνυξ (ónux), meaning "claw", alluding to the animal's very large claw on the first finger; the specific name, walkeri, refers to its discoverer, amateur fossil collector William J. Walker. The holotype specimen is one of the most complete theropod skeletons from the UK, and its discovery attracted media attention. Specimens later discovered in other parts of the United Kingdom and Iberia have also been assigned to the genus, though many have since been moved to new genera.
DISCOVERY
Discovered in 1983 by William Walker in Surrey, England.
DIETARY PROFILE
Semi-aquatic piscivore; hook-like claws evolved to snatch fish.
NOTABLE PALAEONTOLOGY FACTS
- The original fossil found in Surrey, England, still contained fossilized fish scales in its stomach region.
- It had an elongated snout filled with conical, crocodile-like teeth.
HOLLYWOOD INACCURACIES
- Skull is too broad and boxy compared to the narrow, crocodile-like real skull.
- Real animal was likely semi-aquatic like a heron.
