Albertonykus is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 68.5 million years ago. This tiny dinosaur is known from fossils found in Alberta, Canada. It is a member of the Alvarezsauridae family, which are small, fast dinosaurs with some unique features.
The name Albertonykus means “Alberta claw,” and the species name is A. borealis, which stands for “north.” This dinosaur was discovered when paleontologists were studying larger dinosaurs like Albertosaurus. In 2002, scientists found the arm and leg bones of this small theropod dinosaur, and later research determined it was a new species.
Albertonykus was quite small, measuring about 1.1 meters long and weighing only about 5 kilograms. It is the smallest known alvarezsaurid from North America. This dinosaur had long legs, a stiff tail, and very short but strong arms. The arms were designed to support a large claw, which it likely used to peel open rotting logs to find insects to eat.
While scientists haven’t found a complete skeleton of Albertonykus, related species suggest it probably had a long snout with tiny teeth, similar to those of animals like armadillos and anteaters. Researchers believe it primarily fed on wood-nesting termites, as this type of termite was around during its time, and there is evidence of them in the area where Albertonykus was found.
Albertonykus belongs to a special group of dinosaurs called Alvarezsauridae, which are mostly known from fossils found in South America and Asia. The discovery of Albertonykus helps us understand how these dinosaurs might have spread across different continents.
In summary, Albertonykus is a fascinating small dinosaur known for its unique digging abilities and its role in understanding the diet of dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous period.