Dinosaur species
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Baryonyx
Baryonyx was a large Early Cretaceous theropod from Europe. Its skull was long and narrow like a crocodile’s, with jaws lined with narrow, pointed and finely serrated teeth. Viewed from above, its snout was shaped like a long spoon. Having nostrils close to its eyes allowed it to breathe while being almost completely submerged. It had a long, straight neck with its head held low. Its muscular arms had hooked thumb-claws, each 25 centimetres (10 inches) long, on each hand. With its neck and head held low, Baryonyx walked on its long hindlegs, its stiff tail giving it balance.
Fish-eater
Baryonyx's unusual features suggested to palaeontologists that the dinosaur may have led an aquatic lifestyle, feeding mainly on fish. It probably waded into rivers and hooked fish out of the water with its long thumb-claws—in the same way a modern grizzly bear snatches salmon today. On other occasions, it may have submerged its body in the river, eyes and nostrils just above the water's surface, ready to seize passing fish in its crocodile-like jaws.
Scavenger
Some scientists doubt whether Baryonyx could have survived on a diet of fish alone. No large land animal today eats only fish. It is therefore likely that Baryonyx supplemented its diet with land-dwelling prey, whether by hunting or scavenging. Bones from a young Iguanodon have been found inside a Baryonyx’s body cavity, strongly suggesting that the fish-eater was also a meat-eater. Baryonyx’s long, narrow snout was the perfect shape for rooting around inside a carcass, while its hooked claws could have easily sliced through the toughest hide.
Fossil discovery
The fossil remains of Baryonyx were discovered by an amateur fossil hunter in 1983. William Walker came across an enormous claw sticking out of the side of a clay pit on the Isle of Wight in England. The dinosaur’s full name, Baryonyx walkeri, was named in his honour. The first specimen discovered was about 8.5 metres (28 feet) long and weighed 1700 kilograms (3740 pounds). It is thought that this particular specimen was not yet a fully grown adult. The fossilized scales from the fish Lepidotes were found in its belly.
Facts about Baryonyx
Pronunciation: Bar-ee-ON-ix
Size: 9–10 m (30–33 ft) long and 3–4 m (10–13 ft) tall
Where and when: Forests and meadows fringing rivers and swamps in Europe, 120 million years ago (Early Cretaceous)
Diet: Fish and meat, scavenged or hunted
Prey: Lepidotes (fish), possibly small plant-eating dinosaurs such as Hypsilophodon
Features: Thumb claws for hooking fish; a kink in its upper jaw to prevent slippery fish from escaping its jaws; nostrils close to its eyes so it could breathe when almost completely submerged
Relatives: Suchomimus, Spinosaurus (Africa); Irritator (South America)
Consultant: Chris Jarvis
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