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An unusual oviraptorosaurian dinosaur from China

Author

Listed:
  • Xing Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yen-Nien Cheng

    (National Museum of Natural Science)

  • Xiao-Lin Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chun-Hsiang Chang

    (National Museum of Natural Science)

Abstract

Oviraptorosaurians are an unusual group of theropod dinosaurs, with highly specialized skulls1,2,3,4,5,6. Here we report a new oviraptorosaurian, Incisivosaurus gauthieri, gen. et sp. nov., from the lowest part of the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China. This oviraptorosaurian displays a number of characters closer to more typical theropods, such as a low skull and toothed jaws, thus greatly reducing the morphological gap between oviraptorosaurs and other theropods4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. Incisivosaurus has a pair of premaxillary teeth resembling rodent incisors and small, lanceolate cheek teeth with large wear facets. These dental features were previously unknown among theropods and suggest a herbivorous diet. The new discovery provides a case of convergent evolution and demonstrates that non-avian theropods were much more diverse ecologically than previously suspected. Theropoda Marsh, 1881 Maniraptora Gauthier, 1986 Oviraptorosauria Barsbold, 1976 Incisivosaurus gauthieri gen. et sp. nov.

Suggested Citation

  • Xing Xu & Yen-Nien Cheng & Xiao-Lin Wang & Chun-Hsiang Chang, 2002. "An unusual oviraptorosaurian dinosaur from China," Nature, Nature, vol. 419(6904), pages 291-293, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:419:y:2002:i:6904:d:10.1038_nature00966
    DOI: 10.1038/nature00966
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