Erketu Dinosaur was a genus of herbivorous dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period. Members of this genus, which was first discovered in the Candeleros Formation in Patagonia, Argentina, in 1994, are believed to be closely related to Iguanodon and Tenontosaurus. As such, Erketu is associated with the iguanodontid family of dinosaurs. Erketu measured about 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) in length and weighed about 350-400 kilograms (770-880 pounds).
It had a bulky body, with a short neck that was not particularly flexible, and short and stubby forelimbs. Its hindlimbs were more agile and appears to have been the prosauropod dinosaur's primary mode of movement. The most distinctive feature of Erketu was its tail. The tail was proportionally quite long, making up around a quarter of its overall length, and had a distinctive club-like end. This is thought to have been used as a defensive tool, for fending off predators or defending against territorial conflicts.
Erketu Facts :
| Name: | Erketu Dinosaurs |
| Size: | 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) |
| Main Facts: | It had lived in the arid uplands around the Korean Peninsula and Northern Japan, it is one of the few therizinosaurs known from outside of Asia. |
Erketu likely preyed upon smaller animals such as small mammals, lizards, and amphibians. It was also an adept scavenger, searching for carrion in order to supplement its diet. Smaller plants and fruits were also likely part of its diet since it was a plant-eating dinosaur. Erketu would have lived in an ecosystem populated by other kinds of large dinosaurs, including Sauropods, armored Ankylosaurs, and the predatory Gorgosaurus. It probably would have been able to find refuge by using its size, tail, and clubbed tail to ward of predators. In addition, its agile hind legs allowed it to cover ground quickly if needed.
Erketu's remains have provided important insights into the sedimentary history of the early Cretaceous of Patagonia. Its discovery has been important in furthering our understanding of the geographic distribution of herbivorous dinosaurs during this period, as well as in beginning to piece together the paleobiogeography of the region. Erketu died out long ago, but its legacy as an important member of the iguanodontid family of dinosaurs lives on. Its impressive tail and agile limbs made it an impressive dinosaur that could compete with some of its more intimidating contemporaries. It was an important link in the evolution of dinosaurs, and its fossils are a reminder of a time long gone.
