Open Paleo

Yurgovuchia

Senter et al., 2012 yuhr-go-VOO-chee-uh

From the Ute language meaning 'coyote,' referencing the indigenous peoples of Utah where it was found

143.1–132.6 million years ago Berriasian–Valanginian, Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous stages

Yurgovuchia is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in North America during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now the Cedar Mountain Formation. It contains a single species, Yurgovuchia doellingi. The remains were discovered in Utah, United States.

Diagnosis

  1. Centrum of axis with single pneumatopore on each side
  2. Cranial end of centrum of third cervical vertebra not beveled
  3. Cervical prezygapophyses flexed
  4. Epipophyses of cervical vertebrae above postzygapophyseal facets
  5. Cervico-dorsal vertebrae with hypapophyses and without pneumatopores
  6. Cranial faces of centra of proximal caudal vertebrae round
  7. Pubis without pubic tubercle

Species

Yurgovuchia doellingi Senter et al., 2012

Type species

Named for Helmut Doelling, a geologist who conducted over 50 years of geological research and mapping of Utah for the Utah Geological Survey, whose work led to the discovery of the Doelling's Bowl dinosaur sites.

Holotype
UMNH VP 20211 , Utah Museum of Natural History
Material
Partial axial skeleton and proximal end of left pubis
Horizon
lower Yellow Cat Member, Cedar Mountain Formation, Berriasian–Valanginian, Early Cretaceous , 143.1–132.6 million years ago
Locality
Don's Place, Utah, United States

References

  1. Senter, P.; Kirkland, J. I.; DeBlieux, D. D.; Madsen, S.; Toth, N. (2012). New Dromaeosaurids (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Utah, and the Evolution of the Dromaeosaurid Tail. PLoS ONE 7(5): e36790. Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036790 senter2012b
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the mass and hip height estimates.

    jones2026c