In Depth Beibeilong is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the earlier stages of the late Cretaceous. The genus was described from fossilised embryos and eggs. Adult details including maximum size of Beibeilong are unknown at the time of writing, but the original describers of the genus speculated that when fully … Read more
In Depth Ojoraptorsaurus is a genus of oviraptosaur that lived in what is now New Mexico during the earlier stage of the Maastrichtian. Although only named from fossilised pubis bones, Ojoraptorsaurus has been identified as a caenagnathid oviraptosaur, making it a closer relative to genera such as Elmisaurus and Gigantoraptor. With the holotype fossils of … Read more
In Depth The holotype individual of Microvenator was first discovered by the famed American palaeontologist Barnum Brown in 1933. Brown noted that the holotype individual had what he thought was a disproportionately large head, and so came up with the name Megadontosaurus. A reference to the large head, but also the teeth found near it. … Read more
In Depth Huanansaurus is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. The holotype of Huanansaurus consists of an almost complete skull as well as a good proportion of post cranial remains including vertebrae and parts of the arms and legs. These have also led to the interpretation that Huanansaurus … Read more
In Depth Yet another oviraptosaur from the late Cretaceous of Asia, the partial remains of Luoyanggia make it hard to establish an accurate size for the genus, though it is noted to be towards the smaller end of the oviraptosaur size spectrum. Luoyanggia is usually placed within the Oviraptoridae, the same assignment as the original … Read more
In Depth Banji is a genus of small oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China During the late Cretaceous. The name Banji translates as (striped crest), and is a reference to the striations that run vertically along the crest. Another feature seen in the holotype skull is that the nasal opening is by proportion unusually large … Read more
In Depth A little known oviraptorid, Elmisaurus is based upon very few remains. Initially cited as a species of the North American Chirostenotes, it was quickly named as a distinct genus. Still, the Chirostenotes connection did not end there as in 1989 the palaeontologist Philip Currie established a second species, Elmisaurus elegans based upon oviraptorid … Read more
In Depth For a long time Caenagnathasia has been known from only jaw material, and even with the subsequent discovery of an upper leg bone and vertebrae, not much is known about this dinosaur. Two facts can however be established about Caenagnathasia. First, Caenagnathasia is one of if not the smallest oviraptosaur currently known. Second, … Read more
In Depth Hagryphus is another one of those dinosaur genera that teases us about a prospect of being unusually large, yet known only from partial remains, in this case a hand. At about thirty centimetres long this hand is larger than that known for any other oviraptosaur with the sole current exception of Gigantoraptor. This … Read more
In Depth The end five caudal (tail) vertebrae of Nomingia are fused together to form a pygostyle like that of birds. In birds, the pygostyle serves as the attachment point for the tail flight feathers, and in Nomingia the pygostyle probably had a similar function. However as an oviraptosaur, Nomingia would not have been capable … Read more