Pronunciation: suh-RAH-toe-NY-kus
Meaning: Horned claw
Author/s: Alifanov and Barsbold (2009)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Ömnögovi, Mongolia
Discovery Chart Position: #660
Ceratonykus oculatus
(Sharp-Sighted Horned Claw)Etymology
Ceratonykus is derived from the Greek "cerat" (horned) and "onyx" (claw)
The species epithet, oculatus, means "sharp-sighted" in Latin.
Discovery
The remains of Ceratonykus were discovered in the Baruungoyot
Formation at Khermiin Tsav, Ömnögovi aimag (South Gobi province), Mongolia, by Otkhoon Zhargal, a preperator at the Paleontological Center of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, during the Paleoherpetological Party of the Joint Russian–Mongolian Paleontological Expedition in 2003.
The holotype (MPC 100/124) is an incomplete skull with partial lower jaw, several neck and tail vertebrae, sternum (breast bone), both collar bones, partial arms, a fragmentary hip bone (ilium), and hind legs.
