EXHIBIT 170
Aardonyx celestae
Aardonyx was a South African sauropodomorph whose jaws suggest bulk plant feeding while its forelimbs retain a mainly bipedal, grasping arrangement. [1]
TWO WAYS TO PICTURE THE PAST
Compare the evidence with the familiar movie image. The illustrations are not to a shared scale.
Skull reconstruction by IJReid, based on published photos and measurements. It combines interpreted missing portions with known cranial elements and is not a photograph of one complete skull. The original quarry material includes immature individuals. [3]
Aardonyx skull reconstruction with known elements · IJReid. CC BY 4.0. Resized proportionally and converted to WebP; no anatomical edits. The downloaded Commons source already includes any uploader revisions or crops; its selected license applies.
Skeletal mounts and drawings may restore missing parts; the caption identifies the displayed material.
Original cinematic interpretation of Aardonyx. The reconstruction uses a mainly bipedal functional interpretation of the immature type/referred material. Grasping hands distinguish it from later column-handed sauropods; maturity, soft tissues and exact posture remain interpretive. Colors, lighting and scenery are artistic choices; this is not directly observed behavior. Lighting, coloration and scenery are artistic choices. This image does not document a fossil locality or behavior.
Original artwork · artistic interpretation.
Scientific view: source-informed reconstruction, credited paleoart or specimen-based imagery. Movie-style view: Original artistic interpretation. Reconstructions involve uncertainty.
MEET THE ANIMAL
Aardonyx was an Early Jurassic plant-eating sauropodomorph from South Africa, part of the wider group that includes giant sauropods. Its anatomy suggests mainly two-legged movement. The museum estimates its known young animals at around seven metres long; proposed larger adults are extrapolations. Its narrow jaws and inferred reduction of fleshy cheeks suggest a wider gape and bulk feeding, rather than identifying actual meals. Its reconstructed size should stay connected to the growth stage of the material. [D6]
Microscopic examination of long bones reveals rapid growth interrupted by cyclical marks. These structures help researchers investigate development, much as repeated marks can record changes in other growing tissues. They do not directly identify the age at first breeding. Young bones can tell us how an animal grew while leaving eggs, nest arrangements and parental care unknown. [D2]
Other South African fossils were initially compared with or referred to Aardonyx, then named Sefapanosaurus after a detailed anatomical study. Keeping those specimens separate prevents a combined picture that mixes two different named dinosaurs. Each animal's body profile must follow its own securely assigned bones, rather than acquiring extra features simply because another fossil was found nearby or looked broadly similar. [D4]
PREHISTORIC ANIMAL DOSSIER
The animal, the evidence, and the questions still open.
Anatomy and bone growth place these fossils near the transition toward giant quadrupedal sauropods. Young individuals provide evidence about development without supplying a measured adult maximum. [D2] [D1]
Profile scope: Genus profile centered on Aardonyx celestae and immature Marc’s Quarry material, including maxilla holotype BP/1/6254. Historically compared Sefapanosaurus material belongs to a separate genus. [D1] [D4]
Source supported identifies a description documented by the cited source. Inferred marks a reconstruction or functional estimate. Debated marks competing interpretations. Not established means the sources reviewed for this dossier do not support a firm conclusion; it does not mean a behavior never occurred.
A size reference is an estimate, not a population range. Nesting evidence does not by itself establish courtship, mate choice, or lifelong pairing.
About 7 m; immature reconstruction reference
The detailed museum text estimates the two known young animals at around seven metres. It does not provide specimen-specific calculations or establish an adult range; proposed larger future adults are extrapolations. [D6]
About 1–2 tonnes; comparative estimate
The museum estimates mass by comparison with similar dinosaurs, without a specimen-specific calculation. The interval expresses reconstruction uncertainty for young material rather than two measured animals or an adult population range. [D6]
Bulk plant browsing proposed
A narrow jaw and inferred reduction of fleshy cheeks suggest a wide gape and increased bulk feeding. This functional interpretation does not identify actual meals or particular plant species. [D1]
Early Jurassic upper Elliot Formation
The reviewed biostratigraphic account places Marc’s Quarry at Heelbo, Free State, South Africa, in the upper Elliot Formation. The exhibit does not assign a precise numerical age unsupported by the locality evidence. [D5]
Habitual bipedality; grasping forelimbs retained
Short forelimbs and restricted forearm pronation favor mainly two-legged locomotion. Weight-bearing changes in the hindfoot preceded fully quadrupedal sauropods; the hands should not be restored as columnar sauropod forefeet. [D1]
Vertebral fossae suggest early pneumatic features
Posterior dorsal vertebrae have complex fossae interpreted as traces of air-filled diverticula. This is an inference from bone anatomy, not preserved air sacs; unrelated giant Spion Kop bones are outside this profile. [D3]
Not established here
Rapid bone growth and cyclical marks document development in immature material. These tissues do not directly identify sexual maturity, eggs, nests, incubation or parental care. [D2]
Not established here
Focused searches did not establish sexes, mating displays, calls or mate-choice behavior. Developmental evidence does not independently identify sexual dimorphism. [D2]
Not established here
The original quarry bones were interpreted as two immature individuals. Shared deposition does not demonstrate siblings, parental attendance, a persistent herd or coordinated behavior. [D1]
Sources and inspection notes for the claims in this profile.
THE STORY IN THE FOSSILS
Aardonyx illustrates an evolutionary mosaic: feeding and hindfoot support were changing while the forelimbs still retained a mainly bipedal arrangement. [1]
Other South African bones initially compared with Aardonyx were later named Sefapanosaurus. Keeping those animals separate avoids a composite size and anatomy profile. [4]
The dossier identifies the scope of each reference estimate. A mount, an individual fossil and a species-wide adult range are different measurements. Comparison metrics remain unavailable where adult scope has not been established. Unknown does not mean zero.
Sources support the stated claims and scopes. Refer to the evidence notes for uncertainty.
KEEP EXPLORING
Anchisaurus polyzelus
Anchisaurus was a small North American sauropodomorph whose juvenile and mature skulls reveal changes during growth.
Antetonitrus ingenipes
Antetonitrus was a large early sauropodomorph combining substantial hindlimbs with forelimbs that retained grasping capabilities.
Hypsilophodon foxii
Hypsilophodon foxii was a small, ground-dwelling plant-eater from the Isle of Wight. Its lightly built skeleton and long hind limbs are consistent with agile running.
