Draconyx

Draconyx is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that roamed the Earth during the Late Jurassic period. Its fossilized remains were discovered in the Lourinhã Formation, located in what is now Portugal. The genus was formally described in 2001 by paleontologists Octávio Mateus and Miguel Telles Antunes.

Discovery and Etymology

The type species, Draconyx loureiroi, is known from partial skeletal remains that do not include the skull. The generic name, "Draconyx," is a combination of the Latin word "draco" meaning "dragon" and the Ancient Greek word "onyx" meaning "claw," a nod to its formidable claws. The specific name, "loureiroi," honors João de Loureiro, a Portuguese Jesuit priest recognized as a pioneer in Portuguese paleontology. The holotype specimen, ML 357, was found in 1991 at Vale de Frades in layers dating to the Tithonian stage. This specimen includes various bones such as teeth, vertebral centra, parts of the humerus and femur, and numerous bones from the feet and lower legs.

Physical Characteristics and Diet

Draconyx is characterized as a small, bipedal herbivore. Gregory S. Paul, in 2010, estimated its length at approximately 3.5 meters and its weight at around 150 kilograms. Histological studies of the holotype indicate that this individual reached skeletal maturity between the ages of 27 and 31 years old. Another fossil, a left femur found near Praia do Caniçal, has also been referred to this taxon.

Classification

According to the original description by Mateus and Antunes in 2001, Draconyx loureiroi was placed within the Iguanodontia, specifically in the family Camptosauridae. This classification was based on features of its maxillary teeth, which exhibit a strong vertical primary ridge on the distal side of the labial crown, and its curved femur with a prominent lesser trochanter. More recent research, such as an article published in 2022, suggests that Draconyx may be classified as a Styracosterna.