Piatnitzkysaurus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Piatnitzkysaurus Temporal range: Middle Jurassic ~166–164Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓

Skeleton cast
Scientific classification
Genus:	Piatnitzkysaurus
Species:	floresi

Piatnitzkysaurus (say "pee-at-NITZ-kee-SAWR-us") means "Piatnitzky's lizard." This name honors Alejandro Piatnitzky, who was a geologist. It is a type of theropod dinosaur. Theropods were dinosaurs that walked on two legs and mostly ate meat.

This dinosaur lived a very long time ago, about 166 to 164 million years ago. This was during the middle part of the Jurassic Period. Scientists found its bones in Argentina, a country in South America.

Piatnitzkysaurus was a large dinosaur, but it was also quite light. It walked on two legs, which is called being bipedal. It was a carnivore, meaning it hunted and ate other animals. This dinosaur could grow up to 6.6 meters (about 21.6 feet) long.

What Kind of Dinosaur Was It?
Where Did It Live?
Images for kids
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What Kind of Dinosaur Was It?

Piatnitzkysaurus belonged to a group of dinosaurs called Megalosauroids. These were often large, meat-eating dinosaurs. Other famous dinosaurs in this group include Megalosaurus and Torvosaurus.

Scientists study the bones of dinosaurs to figure out how they are related. They look at features of the skeleton to place them in the correct family tree. Piatnitzkysaurus is an important dinosaur because it helps us understand the early evolution of these large theropods.

Where Did It Live?

The fossils of Piatnitzkysaurus were found in the Cañadón Asfalto Formation in Argentina. This area was very different during the Jurassic Period. It was likely a place with rivers, lakes, and forests.

Many other dinosaurs and ancient animals lived alongside Piatnitzkysaurus. This tells us about the ancient environment and the types of creatures that shared its home.