Scipionyx

Name Origin

Scipio's Claw (derived from the Roman general Scipio)

Classification

Diapsida, Saurischia, Theropoda

Habitat (Discovery Location)

Italy

Period

Approximately 113 million years ago (Early Cretaceous)

Length

Approximately 50 cm (Adult estimated at approx. 2 m)

Weight

Approximately 25–30 kg

Diet

Carnivore (Meat-eater)

Description

When we think of dinosaur fossils, usually only “bones” remain.
This is because organic matter decomposes over the flow of tens of millions of years.
However, a fossil of a certain small dinosaur discovered in Italy in 1981 defied this convention.

Called “Scipionyx,” this dinosaur was only about 50 cm in total length.
However, inside its body, not only bones but also “soft tissues” such as the intestines, liver, and muscles were preserved in a miraculous state, just like an anatomical diagram.

The Italian Miracle “Ciro”: The Reason Organs Remained

A Curious Discovery and Nickname

It was discovered in 1981 in a quarry in southern Italy by amateur collector Giovanni Todesco.
It was initially thought to be a “bird,” but 17 years later, in 1998, it was described as a new species of dinosaur.
The scientific name “Scipionyx” is derived from the Roman general Scipio and others, while its nickname “Ciro” is a popular name in the Neapolitan dialect.

Why Did the Organs Remain?

The place where Ciro was discovered used to be a lagoon with an extremely “low-oxygen state.”
This unique environment prevented decay, and because the organs were replaced by minerals (calcium phosphate and hematite) before they could decompose, the internal structure of the dinosaur was preserved as a fossil exactly as it was.

Revealed Internal Structure

A detailed study in 2011 confirmed the following structures.

Digestive Tract

The stomach, duodenum, and even the rectum were preserved, revealing that the intestine was surprisingly short (indicating high digestive efficiency).

Liver

There was an outline of a massive liver in the abdomen, and red pigment from hematite remained.

Others

Muscle fibers, joint cartilage, and traces suggesting a dinosaur-specific respiratory system were also found.

A Hatchling Only a Few Days Old and the “Last Supper”

A Life of Only a Few Days After Hatching

The discovered individual was approximately 50 cm in length.
Because traces of a “yolk sac” (a nutrient sac used immediately after hatching) were found in the abdomen, we know it was a baby only a few days old.
It should have grown to about 2 meters as an adult, but Ciro became a fossil without ever reaching that future.

A Diet Demonstrating Parental Love

From inside the digestive tract, the “last supper” eaten just before death was found.

Stomach/Duodenum: Lizard legs and scales
Intestine: Fish vertebrae and skin (relatives of herring and arowana)

It is impossible for a toddling baby to catch agile lizards and fish on its own.
This is powerful evidence that the parent dinosaur caught prey and fed it to the hatchling in the nest (feeding behavior), conveying the parental love of ancient dinosaurs to the present day.

The Mystery of Classification: Small Dinosaur? Or Child of a Giant?

Because Ciro is so young, its classification continues to puzzle researchers.

Compsognathid Theory

For a long time, it has been considered close to the Compsognathidae family of small theropods.
In this case, it would remain a relatively small dinosaur even as an adult.

Theory of Juvenile Large Carnivore

However, in 2021, the possibility emerged that Ciro is actually a juvenile of the “Carcharodontosauridae” family.
If this is correct, Scipionyx is not a small hunter, but a “baby giant that was destined to stand at the apex of the ecosystem,” like Giganotosaurus.
Debate regarding its classification is still ongoing, and future research is awaited.