Introduction
Prodeinodon is an extinct genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now northern China during the Early Cretaceous period, some 140 to 130 million years ago. It is the first non-theropod dinosaur to be found in Asia and is among the first examples of an Asian dinosaur. Prodeinodon was one of the first large, aggressive Asian predators and stands out as one of the first non-theropod dinosaurs to have lived in what is now China.
Description
Prodeinodon was a bipedal theropod that stood between three and four feet tall and weighed up to 500 kilograms, though this weight has been compared to that of a large dog species. The skull of Prodeinodon was short and stout, with a wide snout and a short, shallow jaw. The teeth were small and smooth, indicating a diet of insects and small animals. The skull also had a pair of large, “drop-shaped” horns just above the eyes, and two smaller hornlets above the back of the skull, although these were not present in some specimens.
The body was slightly more lightly built than a typical theropod, with a large, rounded ribcage and a long, slender tail. The arms were particularly long, with four clawed fingers on each hand. The legs were also powerful and long, and the feet had three large toes in front, and a smaller toe behind.
Habitat and Range
Prodeinodon lived in what is now northern China during the Early Cretaceous period, some 140 to 130 million years ago. They likely lived in large, open plains, or steppes, but have been found in other types of habitats as well. Their range is thought to have extended from modern-day Xiongnu in Mongolia to the coastlines of Hebei province in China.
Behavior & Diet
Prodeinodon were carnivorous and were likely scavengers as well as predators, though they likely had a preference for smaller animals. They were quite large and powerful and the species had jaws that could open wide to consume large prey. They would have used their long arms and sharp claws to capture prey, before finishing them off with a bite.
Fossil Record
The first Prodeinodon fossil was discovered in 1983 in what is now Hebei province in China. Since then, several other specimens have been found. The first Prodeinodon skeleton was discovered in 1986, which was a complete skeleton and dated to the Early Cretaceous period. It is the most complete skeleton of the species to date and has been the source of much of what is known about the species.
Much of the fossil record of Prodeinodon consists of fragmentary remains or smaller pieces of skulls and vertebrae. While most of these have been found in China, specimens of Prodeinodon have also been found in Mongolia and Japan. These findings suggest that the species had a wide range across Asia.
Classification
Prodeinodon is classified as a theropod, a group of carnivorous, bipedal dinosaurs. They are part of the family Euenantiornithes, which was one of the last groups of non-avian dinosaurs before the mass extinction event that killed all dinosaurs except birds. Prodeinodon is further classified as a coelurosaur, a group of theropods that contain many of the most bird-like dinosaurs known.
Conclusion
Prodeinodon is an extinct genus of theropod dinosaur known from the Early Cretaceous of northern China. It was one of the first large predatory dinosaurs to have lived in the region and is a remarkable example of an Asian non-theropod dinosaur. Though the fossil record of this species remains fragmentary, the specimens that have been found have helped to reveal much about the morphology and range of this species. Prodeinodon will continue to be studied for many years to come and may help to give us a greater understanding of Asian dinosaurs and the environment they lived in.