Oviraptor was a small theropod dinosaur that lived in Asia through the Late Cretaceous interval. Found within the Gobi Desert round a century in the past, Oviraptor was given the title “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 habits, Oviraptor had different bird-like options equivalent to a toothless beak and a protecting of feathers.
Learn on to seek out out extra about this distinctive Cretaceous dinosaur…
Oviraptor Details
- Sort of Dinosaur: Theropod
- Weight loss program: 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 probably diverse 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 have been well-developed, ending in three-fingered palms with sharp claws for greedy and manipulating objects. The tail was comparatively brief, and certain led to a fan of feathers just like that of a contemporary hen.
Proof from fossilized stays and associated species signifies that Oviraptor had a protecting of feathers, including to its bird-like look.
What Does The Title Oviraptor Imply?
The title “Oviraptor” means “egg thief.” This title was given as a result of the primary fossilized stays of Oviraptor have been discovered close to a nest of eggs, main paleontologists to initially consider that it was stealing and consuming the eggs.
Nevertheless, later proof instructed that Oviraptor may need been brooding the eggs fairly than preying on them. Regardless of this new understanding, the title “egg thief” has continued.
What Sort 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 have been a singular group inside this bigger classification, identified for his or her distinctive, bird-like bodily options and behaviors.
Oviraptorids, together with Oviraptor, have been usually small to medium-sized dinosaurs with a spread of distinctive variations. That they had brief, beak-like jaws with out enamel, although some species had a number of enamel behind the jaw.
The skulls of oviraptorids typically bore outstanding crests of various styles and sizes, which can have been used for show or species recognition. Their limbs have been well-developed, with robust, slender legs suggesting they have been agile runners.
Fossil proof signifies that Oviraptorids, together with Oviraptor, have been probably feathered, including to their bird-like look. The presence of doable brooding habits in Oviraptorid fossils means that they could have cared for his or her younger equally to fashionable birds.
Yow will discover out extra in regards to the various kinds of dinosaurs on this web page: Varieties Of Dinosaurs
The Discovery Of Oviraptor
In 1923, paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews and his group 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 kind species, Oviraptor philoceratops, was formally described by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1924. Subsequent findings and research, together with fossilized proof suggesting that Oviraptor was probably brooding the eggs fairly than preying on them, have challenged the preliminary interpretation, however the title “Oviraptor” has remained.
When Did Oviraptor Stay?
Oviraptor lived through the Late Cretaceous interval, roughly 85 to 75 million years in the past.
What Dinosaurs And Different Animals Did Oviraptor Stay With?
Oviraptor probably lived alongside quite a lot of different dinosaur species through the Late Cretaceous interval in what’s now Mongolia, notably within the Gobi Desert area. Among the notable dinosaurs that shared its habitat embody:
- Protoceratops: A small, herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur. Fossils of Protoceratops have been present in shut affiliation with Oviraptor, suggesting they shared the identical atmosphere.
- Velociraptor: A small, agile, carnivorous theropod. Velociraptor is well-known for its function in standard tradition and was a up to date predator in the identical area.
- Therizinosaurus: A big theropod with lengthy, clawed forelimbs, identified for its herbivorous weight loss program.
- Saurolophus: A big, herbivorous hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur). These dinosaurs have been frequent within the Late Cretaceous and would have been a part of the identical ecosystem.
- Tarbosaurus: A big, carnivorous theropod just like Tyrannosaurus rex. Tarbosaurus was one of many apex predators within the area.
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