Austrocheirus Facts
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 0.5m |
| Length | 1.5m |
| Weight | 8 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Argentina |

| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 0.5m |
| Length | 1.5m |
| Weight | 8 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Argentina |
Austrocheirus was a small theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 83.6 million years ago in what is now Argentina. This diminutive predator belonged to a group of lightweight, agile hunters that roamed the ancient landscapes of South America during the height of the dinosaur age.
As a member of the theropod group, Austrocheirus walked on two legs and possessed the characteristic sharp teeth and claws of a carnivore. Though only known from fragmentary remains, scientists estimate it measured around 1.5 metres in length and stood about half a metre tall at the hip, making it roughly the size of a large dog. Its relatively light build of approximately 8 kilograms suggests it was built for speed and agility rather than power.
The fossil remains of Austrocheirus were discovered in the Candeleros Formation of Argentina's Neuquén Province, an area renowned for its exceptional Late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils. The creature's name, meaning 'southern hand', reflects both its South American origins and the importance of the hand and arm bones in its identification and classification.
Like other small theropods of its time, Austrocheirus likely hunted small prey including insects, small reptiles, and possibly early mammals. Its discovery has helped palaeontologists better understand the diversity of small predatory dinosaurs that thrived in South America during the Cretaceous period.
Austrocheirus was distinguished by its small, lightweight build and the specific characteristics of its hand bones that gave the dinosaur its name. The fragmentary remains show features typical of the noasaurid family, including adaptations for an agile, predatory lifestyle.
Austrocheirus was likely an active, agile hunter that pursued small prey across the Late Cretaceous landscapes of Argentina. Its small size and light build suggest it was a quick, opportunistic predator that may have hunted insects, small reptiles, and early mammals in its ecosystem.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Family | Noasauridae |
| Genus | Austrocheirus |
Austrocheirus was first described by Martin Ezcurra, Federico Agnolin and Fernando Novas in 2010. The original fossils were discovered at Candeleros Formation, Neuquén Province, Argentina.