Tsaagan
From Mongolian meaning 'white' (цагаан)
Late Cretaceous stages
Tsaagan is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Djadokhta Formation of the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia.
Diagnosis
- Paroccipital process pendulous and not twisted distally
- Basipterygoid process elongate and anteroventrally directed
- Maxillary fenestra large and located at anterior edge of antorbital fossa
- Jugal meets squamosal to exclude postorbital from infratemporal fenestra rim
Species
Tsaagan mangas Norell et al., 2006
Type species
From Mongolian 'tsagaan mangas' meaning 'white monster', with the generic and specific names together forming the phrase; note that the species name contains an accidental misspelling of the Mongolian word 'tsagaan'.
- Holotype
- IGM 100/1015 , Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences
- Material
- Skull with articulated mandibles and eight anteriormost cervical vertebrae
- Horizon
- Bayn Dzak Member, Djadokhta Formation, Campanian, Late Cretaceous , 83.6–72.2 million years ago
- Locality
- Xanadu, Ukhaa Tolgod, Ömnögovi, Mongolia
References
- Norell, M. A.; Clark, J. M.; Turner, A. H.; Makovicky, P. J.; Barsbold, R.; Rowe, T. (2006). A new dromaeosaurid theropod from Ukhaa Tolgod (Ömnögov, Mongolia). American Museum Novitates 3545(1): 1-51. American Museum of Natural History (BioOne sponsored). doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2006)3545[1:andtfu]2.0.co;2 norell2006a
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Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.
Source of the hip height estimate.
jones2026c -
Dingus, L.; Loope, D. B.; Dashzeveg, D.; Swisher, C. C.; Minjin, C.; Novacek, M. J.; Norell, M. A. (2008). The Geology of Ukhaa Tolgod (Djadokhta Formation, Upper Cretaceous, Nemegt Basin, Mongolia). American Museum Novitates 3616(1): 1-40. American Museum of Natural History (BioOne sponsored). doi:10.1206/442.1
Maps Xanadu as one of twelve named collecting areas in the Ukhaa Tolgod drainage basin and describes the eolian and interdune facies exposed there.
dingus2008a