Open Paleo

Linhenykus

Xu et al., 2011 LIN-huh-NYE-kuss

Named for Linhe, a city near the fossil discovery site in Inner Mongolia, combined with Greek 'nykus' meaning 'claw'.

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

Linhenykus is an extinct genus of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China. It is the most basal known member of the Parvicursorinae. The genus gets its name from Linhe, a city near the site where the fossil was first found and Greek nykus, "claw". The specific name is derived from Greek monos, "single", and daktylos, "finger", a reference to the fact that it is the only known non-avian dinosaur to have had but a single digit.

Diagnosis

  1. Only phalanx-bearing digit in manus is digit II; digits III and IV entirely lack phalanges, making this the only functionally monodactyl nonavian dinosaur
  2. Metacarpal III transversely compressed without distal articular surface
  3. Longitudinal ventral furrow along entire length of each cervical centrum
  4. Diapophyseal ridges on cervical vertebrae extend to posterodorsal rim of centrum
  5. Weak ridge-like epipophyses on postzygapophyses of middle cervical vertebrae
  6. Large pneumatic foramina in middorsal vertebrae
  7. Anteriormost caudal vertebrae with amphiplatyan centra and neural spines located completely posterior to neural pedicles

Species

Linhenykus monodactylus Xu et al., 2011

Type species

From Ancient Greek 'monos' meaning 'single' and 'daktylos' meaning 'finger', referring to the fact that Linhenykus is the only known non-avian dinosaur with a single functional digit on each forelimb.

Holotype
IVPP V17608 , Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology
Material
Partial postcranial skeleton including cervical, dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, left scapulocoracoid, nearly complete sternum, much of forelimbs, partial pelvis, nearly complete hindlimbs, and unidentified fragments.
Horizon
Bayan Mandahu Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Gate Locality, Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia, China

References

  1. Xu, X.; Sullivan, C.; Pittman, M.; Choiniere, J. N.; Hone, D.; Upchurch, P.; Tan, Q.; Xiao, D.; Tan, L.; Han, F. (2011). A monodactyl nonavian dinosaur and the complex evolution of the alvarezsauroid hand. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108(6): 2338-2342. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1011052108 xu2011a
  2. Xu, X.; Upchurch, P.; Ma, Q.; Pittman, M.; Choiniere, J.; Sullivan, C.; Hone, D. W. E.; Tan, Q.; Tan, L.; Xiao, D.; Han, F. (2011). Osteology of the alvarezsauroid Linhenykus monodactylus from the Upper Cretaceous Wulansuhai Formation of Inner Mongolia, China, and comments on alvarezsauroid biogeography. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences. doi:10.4202/app.2011.0083

    Osteology. Gives the holotype's coordinate and names the site the Gate Locality.

    xu2011e
  3. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

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

    jones2026c