Oviraptor was a small theropod dinosaur that lived in Asia throughout the Late Cretaceous interval. Found within the Gobi Desert round a century in the past, Oviraptor was given the identify “egg thief”, because it was discovered alongside some fossilized eggs. The dinosaur is now believed to have been brooding the eggs, fairly than stealing them.
In addition to its possible nesting conduct, Oviraptor had different bird-like options resembling a toothless beak and a overlaying of feathers.
Learn on to seek out out extra about this distinctive Cretaceous dinosaur…
Oviraptor Information
- Kind of Dinosaur: Theropod
- Eating regimen: Omnivore
- Continent(s) Discovered: Asia (particularly Mongolia)
- Size: Roughly 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to six.5 ft)
- Weight: Round 33 kilograms (73 kilos)
- Interval: Late Cretaceous (about 85 to 75 million years in the past)
What Did Oviraptor Look Like?
Oviraptor was a small to medium-sized theropod dinosaur, sometimes measuring round 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to six.5 ft) in size and weighing roughly 20 to 33 kilograms (44 to 73 kilos).
This small dinosaur had a particular look, with a brief, toothless beak and doubtless a crest on its head, which possible assorted in form and measurement amongst totally different species.
The physique was comparatively light-weight and agile, supported by robust, slender legs, suggesting Oviraptor was a fast and nimble runner. Its forelimbs had been well-developed, ending in three-fingered palms with sharp claws for greedy and manipulating objects. The tail was comparatively quick, and sure resulted in a fan of feathers much like that of a contemporary fowl.
Proof from fossilized stays and associated species signifies that Oviraptor had a overlaying of feathers, including to its bird-like look.
What Does The Title Oviraptor Imply?
The identify “Oviraptor” means “egg thief.” This identify was given as a result of the primary fossilized stays of Oviraptor had been discovered close to a nest of eggs, main paleontologists to initially consider that it was stealing and consuming the eggs.
Nonetheless, later proof urged that Oviraptor might need been brooding the eggs fairly than preying on them. Regardless of this new understanding, the identify “egg thief” has continued.
What Kind Of Dinosaur Was Oviraptor?
Oviraptor was a theropod dinosaur belonging to the household Oviraptoridae. Theropods are sometimes characterised by their bipedal stance, hole bones, and three-toed limbs.
Oviraptorids had been a singular group inside this bigger classification, recognized for his or her distinctive, bird-like bodily options and behaviors.
Oviraptorids, together with Oviraptor, had been typically small to medium-sized dinosaurs with a spread of distinctive diversifications. They’d quick, beak-like jaws with out tooth, although some species had just a few tooth behind the jaw.
The skulls of oviraptorids usually bore distinguished crests of various sizes and styles, which can have been used for show or species recognition. Their limbs had been well-developed, with robust, slender legs suggesting they had been agile runners.
Fossil proof signifies that Oviraptorids, together with Oviraptor, had been possible feathered, including to their bird-like look. The presence of doable brooding conduct in Oviraptorid fossils means that they could have cared for his or her younger equally to fashionable birds.
You’ll find out extra in regards to the several types of dinosaurs on this web page: Sorts Of Dinosaurs
The Discovery Of Oviraptor
In 1923, paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews and his crew uncovered the primary Oviraptor fossil within the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. The fossil was found within the area’s Djadochta Formation.
The specimen was discovered on a nest of round 15 fossilized eggs, main paleontologists to consider the dinosaur was stealing and consuming the eggs. This assumption led to the naming of the genus “Oviraptor,” which is derived from the Latin for “egg thief”.
The sort species, Oviraptor philoceratops, was formally described by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1924. Subsequent findings and research, together with fossilized proof suggesting that Oviraptor was possible brooding the eggs fairly than preying on them, have challenged the preliminary interpretation, however the identify “Oviraptor” has remained.
When Did Oviraptor Dwell?
Oviraptor lived throughout the Late Cretaceous interval, roughly 85 to 75 million years in the past.
What Dinosaurs And Different Animals Did Oviraptor Dwell With?
Oviraptor possible lived alongside quite a lot of different dinosaur species throughout the Late Cretaceous interval in what’s now Mongolia, significantly within the Gobi Desert area. A number of the notable dinosaurs that shared its habitat embrace:
- Protoceratops: A small, herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur. Fossils of Protoceratops have been present in shut affiliation with Oviraptor, suggesting they shared the identical setting.
- Velociraptor: A small, agile, carnivorous theropod. Velociraptor is well-known for its position in in style tradition and was a recent predator in the identical area.
- Therizinosaurus: A big theropod with lengthy, clawed forelimbs, recognized for its herbivorous weight loss plan.
- Saurolophus: A big, herbivorous hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur). These dinosaurs had been frequent within the Late Cretaceous and would have been a part of the identical ecosystem.
- Tarbosaurus: A big, carnivorous theropod much like Tyrannosaurus rex. Tarbosaurus was one of many apex predators within the area.
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