Aerosteon riocoloradensis

†Aerosteon riocoloradensis was a large allosauroid theropod from the Late Cretaceous (~84 Ma) of Mendoza Province, Argentina. Estimated at 9-10m long, this bipedal carnivore is remarkable for preserving evidence of an avian-style air sac respiratory system — suggesting bird-like lung function evolved in dinosaurs before birds. Named by Sereno et al. in 2008.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Aerosteon riocoloradensis was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Aerosteon riocoloradensis lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.