Open Paleo

Gobiraptor

Lee et al., 2019 GOH-bee-RAP-tor

From the Gobi Desert (where it was found) combined with Latin raptor (thief, plunderer); meaning 'Gobi thief'

72.2–66.0 million years ago Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Gobiraptor is a genus of oviraptorid maniraptoran dinosaur from the Maastrichtian-aged Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. The type and only species is Gobiraptor minutus, known from a single incomplete specimen-the holotype MPC-D 102/111. It has been found not to be closely related to the other oviraptorids it shared its environment with.

Diagnosis

  1. Flat articular surface for the quadratojugal on the quadrate
  2. Extremely thickened rostrodorsal end of the mandibular symphysis with a caudal expansion of its dorsal surface
  3. Rudimentary lingual triturating shelf on each dentary bearing small occlusal foramina
  4. Weakly developed lingual ridge on each lingual shelf
  5. Rostral end of the coronoid bone wedging into the ventral surface of the dorsal ramus of the dentary

Species

Gobiraptor minutus Lee et al., 2019

Type species

From Latin 'minutus' meaning 'minute' or 'tiny', a reference to the small size of the juvenile type specimen.

Holotype
MPC-D 102/111 , Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Material
Partial skeleton
Horizon
Nemegt Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 72.2–66.0 million years ago
Locality
Altan Uul III, Ömnögovi, Mongolia

References

  1. Lee, S.; Lee, Y. N.; Chinsamy, A.; Lü, J.; Barsbold, R.; Tsogtbaatar, K. (2019). A new baby oviraptorid dinosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. PLOS ONE 14(2): e0210867. Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0210867 lee2019b
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length, mass, and hip height estimates, and the appearance features.

    jones2026c