Open Paleo

Citipati

Clark et al., 2001 CHIT-i-puh-tih

From Sanskrit/Tibetan Buddhist mythology, citipati refers to the 'lords of the cemetery' or 'funeral pyre lords', two monks who became the guardians of the dead. The name alludes to individuals found atop nests, interpreted as brooding over eggs.

83.6–72.2 million years ago Campanian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Citipati is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period, about 75 million to 71 million years ago. It is mainly known from the Ukhaa Tolgod locality at the Djadokhta Formation, where the first remains were collected during the 1990s. The genus and type species Citipati osmolskae were named and described in 2001. A second species from the adjacent Zamyn Khondt locality may also exist. Citipati is one of the best-known oviraptorids thanks to a number of well-preserved specimens, including individuals found in brooding positions atop nests of eggs, though most of them were initially referred to the related Oviraptor. These nesting specimens have helped to solidify the link between non-avian dinosaurs and birds.

Diagnosis

  1. Anterodorsally sloping occiput and quadrate (if braincase positioned horizontally)
  2. Parietal much longer along the midline than the frontal, reaching nearly to the level of the anterior end of the orbit
  3. Ascending process of the jugal perpendicular to the horizontal ramus rather than extending posterodorsally
  4. Ascending process of the premaxilla vertical rather than sloping posterodorsally
  5. Cervical vertebrae more elongate (approximately twice as long as they are wide)
  6. Ischia form a symphysis distally

Species

Citipati osmolskae Clark et al., 2001

Type species

Named for the noted Polish paleontologist Halszka Osmólska, whose work dealt extensively with Mongolian theropods.

Holotype
IGM 100/978 , Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Material
Nearly complete skeleton. Skull, several cervical vertebrae, and shoulder girdle prepared; most of postcranial skeleton not yet prepared.
Horizon
Bayn Dzak Member, Djadokhta Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Ankylosaur Flats, Ukhaa Tolgod, Ömnögovi, Mongolia

Notable specimens

  • “Big Mama”

    IGM 100/979 Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences Found 1993 reproductive

    Adult preserved in a bird-like brooding pose atop a nest of elongatoolithid eggs, forelimbs covering the nest perimeter; landmark evidence linking oviraptorids to avian brooding. Also shows a badly broken but healed right ulna with a prominent callus.

    Norell et al. (1995)

  • “Big Auntie”

    IGM 100/1004 Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences Found 1995 reproductive

    Second nesting oviraptorid specimen, slightly more complete than Big Mama; preserves the entire cervical series except atlas and axis, dorsal vertebrae with thoracic ribs, partial limbs and some sacral vertebrae. About 11% larger than IGM 100/979.

    Norell et al. (2018)

  • IGM 100/971

    Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences Found 1993 reproductive

    Nearly complete oviraptorid embryo found in an isolated circular nest, associated with two perinate troodontid skulls; the first Citipati specimen discovered and early evidence that oviraptorids brooded their nests.

    Norell et al. (1994)

References

  1. Norell, M. A.; Clark, J. M.; Dashzeveg, D.; Barsbold, R.; Chiappe, L. M.; Davidson, A. R.; McKenna, M. C.; Perle, A.; Novacek, M. J. (1994). A theropod dinosaur embryo and the affinities of the Flaming Cliffs Dinosaur eggs. Science 266(5186): 779-782. doi:10.1126/science.266.5186.779 norell1994a
  2. Norell, M. A.; Clark, J. M.; Chiappe, L. M.; Dashzeveg, D. (1995). A nesting dinosaur. Nature 378(6559): 774-776. doi:10.1038/378774a0 norell1995b
  3. Clark, J. M.; Norell, M. A.; Barsbold, R. (2001). Two new oviraptorids (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria), Upper Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation, Ukhaa Tolgod, Mongolia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 21(2): 209-213. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2001)021[0209:tnotou]2.0.co;2 clark2001a
  4. Norell, M. A.; Balanoff, A. M.; Barta, D. E.; Erickson, G. M. (2018). A second specimen of Citipati osmolskae associated with a nest of eggs from Ukhaa Tolgod, Omnogov Aimag, Mongolia. American Museum Novitates (3899): 1-44. doi:10.1206/3899.1 norell2018a
  5. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the hip height estimate, and the appearance features.

    jones2026c