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Machairasaurus

Longrich et al., 2010 muh-KY-ruh-SAWR-us

From Greek 'makhaira' (short scimitar or curved blade) and 'sauros' (lizard); meaning 'scimitar lizard', referring to the sabre-like hand claws

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

Machairasaurus is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur which was found in the Bayan Mandahu Formation, China, dating to the late Cretaceous period.

Diagnosis

  1. Manual unguals I–III elongate and blade-like in lateral view, approximately 400% the height of proximal articular surface
  2. Unguals of manual digits II and III weakly curved and bearing reduced flexor tubercles
  3. Manual phalanx II-2 does not exceed length of II-1
  4. Ventral flange of metacarpal I overlapping the ventral surface of metacarpal II
  5. Combined length of phalanges II-1 and II-2 does not exceed 110% the length of metacarpal II
  6. Metacarpal I at least 50% the length of metacarpal II
  7. Phalanx III-3 does not exceed length of phalanx III-2
  8. Phalanx I-1 robust with shaft diameter at least 20% of length

Species

Machairasaurus leptonychus Longrich et al., 2010

Type species

From Ancient Greek 'leptos' meaning 'slender' and 'onyx' meaning 'claw', referring collectively to the sabre-like hand claws of the animal.

Holotype
IVPP V15979 , Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology
Material
Partial skeleton including nearly complete articulated right forearm and manus, fragments of left manus and pedal phalanges
Horizon
Bayan Mandahu Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
Locality
Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia, China

References

  1. Longrich, N. R.; Currie, P. J.; Dong, Z. M. (2010). A new oviraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia. Palaeontology 53(5): 945-960. Wiley. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00968.x longrich2010a