VR Jurassic Encyclopedia #6
Baryonyx dinosaur facts VR 360 video education
The next video in the VR Jurassic Encyclopedia series is now available on youtube. In this video, we bring you new and unknown facts about the dinosaur that is Baryonyx.
Baryonyx is a genus of theropod dinosaur which lived in the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, about 130–125 million years ago.
The first skeleton of this dinosaur was discovered in England in 1983 and has become a holotype specimen of the Baryonyx walkeri. The name of the dinosaur, meaning “heavy claw“, comes from the very large claw that the animal had on its first finger. The name walkeri refers to the discoverer for finding the Baryonyx fossil, William J. Walker.
It is estimated that Baryonyx could measure from 7.5 m to even 10 meters in length and could weigh from 1200 kg to even 1700 kg. His build was also quite unusual because he had a long and narrow snout. Baryonyx had a large number of finely serrated, conical teeth, with the largest teeth in front.
His neck was arranged in the shape of the letter S.
Paleontologists suggested that its elongated snout with many finely serrated teeth indicated that Baryonyx was piscivorous (fish-eating), speculating that it crouched on a riverbank and used its claw to gaff fish out of the water (similar to the modern grizzly bear). Others suggest that due to its long and narrow snout it might have behaved like herons or storks. Its also possible that they shared their hunting habits with crocodiles, gripping its prey with the tip of the jaw, and swallowing it whole. Even though the Baryonyx diet consisted mostly of fish, it might have been an active predator and opportunistic scavenger. It is believed that it lived mostly near rivers, lakes, swamps or coastline, crouching in shallow water to catch its prey.
To be able to see it in virtual reality, be sure to watch the VR Jurassic Encyclopedia #6 video posted on the website and continue our VR 360 video education about dinosaurs. Find out more about this curious creature.