With the publication of the scientific paper saying the invention of Eoneophron infernalis, we at The whole lot Dinosaur thought we’d take a more in-depth have a look at the Caenagnathidae. The Caenagnathidae household (pronounced seen-nag-nay-thid-ay), are a part of the Oviraptorosauria clade of maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs. They’re carefully associated to the oviraptorids (Oviraptoridae household).
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To learn the current article about Eoneophron infernalis: College Scholar Discovers New Dinosaur Species.
Defining the Maniraptora and the Oviraptorosauria
The Maniraptora clade consists of coelurosaurian dinosaurs and is outlined as together with the birds and the non-avian dinosaurs extra carefully associated to them than to Ornithomimus velox. In addition to containing the Oviraptorosauria, this clade additionally consists of a number of different teams such because the dromaeosaurids, the Troodontidae household and the therizinosaurs.
The Oviraptorosauria clade* is comprised of the Caudipteridae household and two carefully associated dinosaur households the Caenagnathidae and the Oviraptoridae that collectively are categorised because the Caenagnathoidea. The Oviraptorosauria are united by having very bird-like skeletons, with extremely pneumatised bones. As well as, the podium could be very quick, and these dinosaurs have beaks. The beak is commonly, however not at all times edentulous (no tooth). These dinosaurs have been all most likely feathered.
The picture (above) depicts an Oviraptor mannequin from the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs vary.
To view this vary of prehistoric animal figures: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs/Prehistoric Life Fashions.
The Caenagnathidae Household and Eoneophron infernalis
The household Caenagnathidae, along with its carefully associated sister household the Oviraptoridae, includes the superfamily Caenagnathoidea. Just about all identified members of this superfamily are confined to the Late Cretaceous. Taxonomically the Caenagnathidae is outlined as Chirostenotes pergracilis and all different theropods extra carefully associated to it than they’re to Oviraptor philoceratops.
Most of those dinosaurs are typically fairly small. Because of this, they’re most likely underrepresented within the fossil file. For instance, Anzu wyliei was thought till lately to be the one caenagnathid from the Hell Creek Formation. Nonetheless, there are most likely a minimum of three caenagnathids current in Hell Creek strata, together with the lately named Eoneophron infernalis.
Caenagnathids Not Carefully Associated to Ostriches
The Caenagnathidae household was initially erected by Raymond Martin Sternberg (1940), the son of the pioneering palaeontologist Charles Mortram Sternberg. Raymond Martin Sternberg thought that these dinosaurs have been flightless birds. He erected the Caenagnathidae household which interprets as “current jaws”. It was mistakenly thought that these theropods have been carefully associated to the Palaeognathae “previous jaws” chook household. Extant palaeognath birds embody the flightless Kiwi, the Ostrich and the Rhea in addition to volant kinds akin to Tinamou birds. It’s now identified that the Caenagnathidae household of non-avian dinosaurs aren’t carefully associated to palaeognaths.
Caenagnathids are confined to the Late Cretaceous of Asia and North America. They have a tendency to have small heads, lengthy necks and quick tails.
Difficult Phylogenetic Evaluation
While the fragmentary nature of most caenagnathid specimens makes phylogenetic evaluation difficult, within the current Eoneophron infernalis paper the researchers undertook a time-calibrated phylogenetic evaluation of the Oviraptorosauria. Eoneophron was positioned as a sister taxon to Citipes elegans and Elmisaurus rarus.
The difficulties concerned in classifying oviraptorosaurs is exemplified by this placement. Though skeletal similarities between these three dinosaurs exist, there’s a lack of comparable fossil materials to review. Citipes elegans is geologically older. Its fossils come from the Dinosaur Provincial Park Formation of Alberta (Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous). In distinction, Elmisaurus rarus most likely predates Eoneophron infernalis by a few million years. It too is from the Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Cretaceous. Nonetheless, E. rarus fossils come from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia.
A revision of already described specimens coupled with improved fossil sampling ought to assist palaeontologists to achieve a greater understanding of the taxonomy of the Oviraptorosauria and particularly the enigmatic Caenagnathidae.
The Oviraptorosauria clade* additionally consists of another theropods thought to be basal members of this clade. For instance, Incisivosaurus gauthieri from the Early Cretaceous of China.
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