Gobiraptor is an extinct genus of oviraptorid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous. It was discovered in the Nemegt Formation (Mongolia) and was described in 2019 by Jungjin Lee et al.
Discovery and naming[]
The fossils that have been found are the lower jaws, the last sacral vertebra connected to the two front tail vertebrae, seven front/middle tail vertebrae, the right shoulder joint, a piece of the humerus, the pelvis, both thigh bones and the left foot.
Gobiraptor's known fossils
Gobiraptor’s genus name translates to “Gobi thief”, in reference to the Gobi desert it was found in. Its species name, “minutus”, means “minute one”, hinting at the small size of the type specimen’s size.
Description[]
Gobiraptor was a small oviraptorid from Mongolia. Similarly to its relatives, it was likely covered in feathers, which may have been used for display and/or warmth. It lacked a crest on its head, a common feature of other oviraptorids. It had a strong beak thicker than that of its relatives, indicating a specialized diet. It may have fed on seeds and shellfish, which would’ve reduced the local competition with other species it lived with.
Paleobiology[]
Gobiraptor lived in a mesic habitat. Its foot structure indicated it wasn’t a fast runner. The roof of its mouth had a thickened plate with small holes. Its lower jaw was thicker, suggesting it was an omnivore.