Ceratonykus oculatus

† Ceratonykus oculatus was an alvarezsaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation of Mongolia. Alvarezsaurids were small, highly specialized coelurosaurs with vestigial forelimbs bearing a single powerful digging claw, likely used to excavate termite and ant colonies. 'Oculatus' references large eye sockets suggesting enhanced vision, possibly for hunting invertebrates at dawn or dusk. Ceratonykus contributes to the diverse alvarezsaurid fauna of the Mongolian Late Cretaceous.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Ceratonykus oculatus 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

Ceratonykus oculatus 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.