Field Guide to the Oviraptorosaur

This bizarre dinosaur is unlike any other known to science, representing a brand new species of oviraptorosaur that has yet to be named.

Oviraptorosaurs were unusual theropods (generally meat-eating dinosaurs) that lived during the Cretaceous Period, between 130-65 million years ago. Our oviraptorosaur is both the largest and the geologically youngest oviraptorosaur yet discovered.

This dinosaur has a startling array of features. It is armed with long, intimidating claws, yet it has no teeth. The bones are lightweight, but strong. The skull is capped with an unusual crest. The skeleton poses several intriguing riddles. What do these anatomical features reveal about oviraptorosaurs, a group of dinosaurs long shrouded in mystery? Where does this dinosaur fit on the evolutionary tree of life? Explore this Field Guide to learn more!

	Appearance & Behavior With its toothless jaws, long spindly legs, and three-toed feet, our new oviraptorosaur looks more like a bird than a typical dinosaur.
	Evolutionary Relationships This bizarre dinosaur is unlike any other known to science. It represents a previously unknown species.
	Ancient Environments The oviraptorosaur’s world was lush and green. This warm, humid coastal plain was populated by a diverse assortment of animals.
	Geography & Distribution How can the fossils of oviraptorosaurs be found on two continents that today are separated by an ocean?
	Related Research at Carnegie Museum of Natural History Our museum is home to one of the world's finest collections of dinosaurs and other fossils, where our world-class scientists do cutting-edge research.

Return to Dinosaurs in Their Time