Baryonyx
Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Theropoda
Discovered in southern England, Baronyx had a huge curved claw over 12 inches (30-cm) in length on each hand. Its long narrow jaws were equipped with small pointed teeth, twice as many as a theropod would normally have, which leads many to think that Baryonyx was a fisher. It might have wadedin shallow water to spear fish with its claws.
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Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Baryonyx mean?
The name Baryonyx means “Heavy Claw”. It is pronounced bare-ee-ON-iks.
When did Baryonyx live?
Baryonyx lived during the Early Cretaceous.
Was Baryonyx a carnivore or a herbivore?
Baryonyx was a carnivore.
How big was Baryonyx?
Baryonyx was about 30 feet (9.1 meters) long, around 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall, weighing up to 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg).
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