In Depth
Machairasaurus is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in China during the late Cretaceous. Machairasaurus was so named from the claws on its fingers which are curved like scimitar swords. It is speculated that these claws may have allowed Machairasaurus to pull and manipulate plant branches or possibly even dig out roots. Machairasaurus has been considered to be a close relative to the genera Conchoraptor, Heyuannia, and Nemegtomaia.
Further Reading
- A new oviraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia. - Palaeontology 53(5):945-960. - N. R. Longrich, P. J. Currie & Z.-M. Dong - 2010.
