Open Paleo

Khaan

Clark et al., 2001 kahn /ˈkɑːn/

From Mongolian 'khaan' (lord or ruler); named for the Mongolian word for a noble title

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

Khaan is an extinct genus of oviraptorid dinosaur known from remains found in the Djadokhta Formation of Mongolia, dating to the Late Cretaceous (Campanian, 75-71 million years ago).

Diagnosis

  1. Metacarpal III not expanded proximally and does not contact the distal carpus
  2. Long axis of oval narial opening more horizontally oriented
  3. Nasals are fused
  4. Dorsal process of premaxilla projects posterodorsally rather than vertical
  5. Occiput is vertical rather than facing posterodorsal
  6. Posteroventral part of dentary underlies the angular ventrally rather than overlapping it laterally
  7. Coronoid eminence of the mandible is not as deep

Species

Khaan mckennai Clark et al., 2001

Type species

Named for Malcolm Carnegie McKenna, the American paleontologist.

Holotype
IGM 100/1127 , Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Material
Complete skeleton, slightly disarticulated in the thorax.
Horizon
Bayn Dzak Member, Djadokhta Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Mark's Second Egg, Ukhaa Tolgod, Ömnögovi, Mongolia

Notable specimens

  • “Juliet”

    IGM 100/1002, MPC-D 100/1002 Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences iconic

    Referred specimen found together with the holotype; the pair was informally nicknamed Romeo and Juliet. It was central to a 2014 study of possible sexual dimorphism in Khaan, differing from the holotype in its anterior chevrons, which bear a heel-like distal expansion.

    Persons et al. (2015)

  • IGM 100/973, MPC-D 100/973

    Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences largest individual

    A third, considerably larger referred specimen of Khaan mckennai, documenting a larger individual than the holotype and its associated referred specimen.

    Clark et al. (2001)

References

  1. 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
  2. Persons, W. S. IV; Funston, G. F.; Currie, P. J.; Norell, M. A. (2015). A possible instance of sexual dimorphism in the tails of two oviraptorosaur dinosaurs. Scientific Reports 5: 9472. doi:10.1038/srep09472 persons2015a