Open Paleo

Albinykus

Nesbitt et al., 2011 al-bih-NY-kus

Named after 'albin', a term used by Mongolian shamans to describe light phenomena in the Gobi Desert, combined with Greek 'onyx' meaning 'claw'.

85.7–72.2 million years ago Santonian–Campanian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Albinykus is a genus of alvarezsaurid dinosaur whose fossils have been found in the Late Cretaceous-aged (Santonian) Javkhlant Formation in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The type species, A. baatar, was named by Sterling J. Nesbitt, Julia A. Clarke, Alan H. Turner and Mark A. Norell in 2011.

Diagnosis

  1. Short metatarsal I with a rounded proximal tip, unknown in Alvarezsaurus and Patagonykus
  2. Well-pronounced knob-like crest for M. iliofibularis attachment on fibula proportionally larger than in other alvarezsaurids
  3. Phalanx IV-4 longer than both IV-2 and IV-3
  4. Deep groove on anterior face of the ascending process of the astragalus

Species

Albinykus baatar Nesbitt et al., 2011

Type species

From Mongolian 'baatar' meaning 'hero' or 'warrior'.

Holotype
IGM 100/3004 , Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Material
Articulated hind limbs: portions of right ilium, partial ischium, fragmentary right femur, nearly complete right and left tibiae, proximal fibulae, complete right and left pedes
Horizon
Javkhlant Formation, Santonian–Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 85.7–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Khugenetjavkhlant, Dornogovi, Mongolia

References

  1. Nesbitt, S. J.; Clarke, J. A.; Turner, A. H.; Norell, M. A. (2011). A small alvarezsaurid from the eastern Gobi Desert offers insight into evolutionary patterns in the Alvarezsauroidea. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31(1): 144-153. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/02724634.2011.540053 nesbitt2011a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length and hip height estimates.

    jones2026c