The Dawn Runner
Eodromaeus, meaning “dawn runner,” was an early theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 230 million years ago during the Late Triassic period.
| Meaning | Dawn runner [Eo-dromaeus] |
| Pronunciation | EE-oh-droh-MY-us |
| When: | Late Triassic (about 231 million years ago) |
| Where: | South America (Argentina) |
| What: | Theropod (early theropod, carnivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 5 kg (11 pounds) |
| Length: | Approximately 1.2 meters (4 feet) |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (ate small animals) |
| Discovered: | First described by Ricardo MartÃnez and colleagues in 2011 |
Discovered in Argentina, Eodromaeus was a small carnivorous dinosaur, measuring about 1.2 meters (4 feet) in length and weighing around 10-15 kilograms (22-33 pounds).
It had sharp teeth and claws, indicating it was well-adapted for hunting small prey.
Its long hind limbs and lightweight build suggest it was capable of swift movements, likely chasing after agile creatures like early mammals or reptiles.
Despite its small size compared to later theropods, Eodromaeus played a crucial role in the early stages of dinosaur evolution, paving the way for larger and more diverse carnivorous dinosaurs that would dominate the Earth in later periods.