Open Paleo

Khulsanurus

Averianov & Lopatin, 2021

Named after the Khulsan Locality in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia combined with Greek oura (tail); meaning "tail from Khulsan"

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

Khulsanurus is an extinct genus of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Baruungoyot Formation of the Khulsan Locality in the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia. The type and only species is Khulsanurus magnificus.

Diagnosis

  1. Pleurocoels, carotid processes, and epipophyses absent on cervicals
  2. Slightly convex posterior centrum condyle of anterior caudals
  3. Prominent anterior and posterior bumps at neurocentral junction in anterior caudals
  4. Dorsoventrally thick and subtriangular transverse process of anterior caudals
  5. Prominent infrapostzygapophysial fossa on transverse process of anterior caudals
  6. Short and mostly anteriorly directed prezygapophyses of anterior caudals
  7. Neural arch lacking interzygapophyseal ridges with prominent dorsal depression around neural spine

Species

Khulsanurus magnificus Averianov & Lopatin, 2021

Type species

From Latin 'magnificus' meaning 'magnificent' or 'splendid'.

Holotype
PIN 4487/27 , Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences
Material
Partial postcranial skeleton including right and left scapulocoracoids, right humerus, cervical and caudal vertebrae, thoracic ribs, and pubis.
Horizon
Baruungoyot Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Khulsan, Ömnögovi, Mongolia

References

  1. Averianov, A. O.; Lopatin, A. V. (2021). The second taxon of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Khulsan locality in Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Historical Biology 34(11): 2125-2136. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/08912963.2021.2000976 averianov2021c