Bagaraatan

Taxobox|
name = "Bagaraatan"
fossil_range = Late Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
ordo = Saurischia
subordo = Theropoda
superfamilia =
genus = "Bagaraatan"
species = "B. ostromi"
binomial = "Bagaraatan ostromi"
binomial_authority = Osmolska, 1996

"Bagaraatan" (meaning "small hunter") was a genus of theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period. Its fossils were found in the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. "Bagaraatan" may have been around 3-4 meters in length.

The type species, "B. ostromi", was described by Osmolska in 1996. The post-cranial (ZPAL MgD-I/108) skeleton has been described as "bird-like", while the skull exhibits features of several different theropod groups. Holtz classified it as a basal tyrannosauroid, Coria identified it as a troodontid, and Rauhut placed it in maniraptora.

References

* Osmolska, H. (1996). "An unusual theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia". "Acta Palaeontologica Polonica" 41; 1-38

External links

* [http://dml.cmnh.org/2002Dec/msg00186.html Dinosaur Mailing List entry which discusses the genus]
* [http://www.dinoruss.com/de_4/5a66396.htm "Bagaraatan" in the Dinosaur Encyclopedia] at DinoRuss' Lair