Elmisaurus
Encyclopedia
Elmisaurus is an extinct genus
of dinosaur
from the Late Cretaceous
. It was a theropod belonging to the Oviraptorosauria
. Its fossils have been found in Asia
and North America
. It is known from only its feet and hands.
In 1970 a paleontological Polish-Mongolian expedition discovered two fragmentary specimens of a small theropod in the Ömnögovĭ
province of Mongolia
. The type species
, Elmisaurus rarus, was named and described by Halszka Osmólska
in 1981. The generic name is derived from Mongol elmyi or ölmyi, "foot sole" as the type specimen consisted of a metatarsus
. The specific name means "rare" in Latin
. The holotype
is ZPAL MgD-I/172, a left metatarsus fused with the tarsalia. There are two paratype
s: ZPAL MgD-I/98, consisting of a right hand and foot, and ZPAL MgD-I/20, the upper part of the left metatarsus of a larger individual.
A second species, Elmisaurus elegans, was referred in 1989 to Elmisaurus by Philip Currie
. This represented a North American form originally described as a species of Ornithomimus
by William Arthur Parks in 1933, based on specimen ROM 781, a foot. Curie also referred the material of the American form Caenagnathus
sternbergi, based on a jaw fragment, to Elmisaurus elegans. Due to their poor preservation and geographical distance from the type species, the exact status of the American forms has been contentious. In 1997, Hans-Dieter Sues
stated that this supposed second species of Elmisaurus should be referred to Chirostenotes
, as a Chirostenotes elegans. This position was not accepted by Currie who in 2005 suggested that Caenagnathus sternbergi was identical to Chirostenotes pergracilis.
Elmisaurus was by Osmólska originally assigned to the Elmisauridae. Most researchers today consider it a member of the Caenagnathidae, some of the Oviraptoridae
.
In a 2001 study conducted by Bruce Rothschild and other paleontologists, 23 foot bones referred to Elmisaurus were examined for signs of stress fracture
, but none were found.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
from the Late Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
. It was a theropod belonging to the Oviraptorosauria
Oviraptorosauria
Oviraptorosaurs are a group of feathered maniraptoran dinosaurs from the Cretaceous Period of what are now Asia and North America. They are distinct for their characteristically short, beaked, parrot - like skulls, with or without bony crests atop the head...
. Its fossils have been found in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is known from only its feet and hands.
In 1970 a paleontological Polish-Mongolian expedition discovered two fragmentary specimens of a small theropod in the Ömnögovĭ
Ömnögovi
Ömnögovi may refer to:* Ömnögovi Province, an aimag of Mongolia* Ömnögovi, Uvs, a sum in Uvs Aimag of Mongolia...
province of Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, Elmisaurus rarus, was named and described by Halszka Osmólska
Halszka Osmólska
Halszka Osmólska was a Polish paleontologist who had specialized in Mongolian dinosaurs.She was born in Poznań. A member of the 1965 and 1970 Polish–Mongolian expeditions to the Gobi Desert, she described many finds from these rocks, often with Teresa Maryańska...
in 1981. The generic name is derived from Mongol elmyi or ölmyi, "foot sole" as the type specimen consisted of a metatarsus
Metatarsus
The metatarsus or metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones in the foot located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the medial side : the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth...
. The specific name means "rare" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. The holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
is ZPAL MgD-I/172, a left metatarsus fused with the tarsalia. There are two paratype
Paratype
Paratype is a technical term used in the scientific naming of species and other taxa of organisms. The exact meaning of the term paratype when it is used in zoology is not the same as the meaning when it is used in botany...
s: ZPAL MgD-I/98, consisting of a right hand and foot, and ZPAL MgD-I/20, the upper part of the left metatarsus of a larger individual.
A second species, Elmisaurus elegans, was referred in 1989 to Elmisaurus by Philip Currie
Philip Currie
Philip Henry Wodehouse Currie, 1st Baron Currie GCB , known as Sir Philip Currie between 1885 and 1899, was a British diplomat. He was Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1893 to 1898 and Ambassador to Italy from 1898 to 1902.-Background and education:Currie was the son of Raikes Currie, Member...
. This represented a North American form originally described as a species of Ornithomimus
Ornithomimus
Ornithomimus is a genus of ornithomimid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period of what is now North America.In 1890 Ornithomimus velox was named by Othniel Charles Marsh on the basis of a foot and partial hand from the Maastrichtian Denver Formation. Another seventeen species have been named since...
by William Arthur Parks in 1933, based on specimen ROM 781, a foot. Curie also referred the material of the American form Caenagnathus
Caenagnathus
Caenagnathus is a genus of oviraptorosaurian dinosaur from the late Cretaceous . It is known from a single lower jaw, found in the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada.-Taxonomic history:...
sternbergi, based on a jaw fragment, to Elmisaurus elegans. Due to their poor preservation and geographical distance from the type species, the exact status of the American forms has been contentious. In 1997, Hans-Dieter Sues
Hans-Dieter Sues
Hans-Dieter Sues is a German-born paleontologist who is Senior Scientist and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. He received his education at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz , University of Alberta, and...
stated that this supposed second species of Elmisaurus should be referred to Chirostenotes
Chirostenotes
Chirostenotes is a genus of oviraptorosaurian dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. The type species is Chirostenotes pergracilis. Some researchers recognize a second species, C...
, as a Chirostenotes elegans. This position was not accepted by Currie who in 2005 suggested that Caenagnathus sternbergi was identical to Chirostenotes pergracilis.
Elmisaurus was by Osmólska originally assigned to the Elmisauridae. Most researchers today consider it a member of the Caenagnathidae, some of the Oviraptoridae
Oviraptoridae
Oviraptoridae is a group of bird-like, herbivorous and omnivorous maniraptoran dinosaurs. Oviraptorids are characterized by their toothless, parrot-like beaks and, in some cases, elaborate crests. They were generally small, measuring between one and two metres long in most cases, though some...
.
In a 2001 study conducted by Bruce Rothschild and other paleontologists, 23 foot bones referred to Elmisaurus were examined for signs of stress fracture
Stress fracture
A stress fracture is one type of incomplete fracture in bones. It is caused by "unusual or repeated stress" and also heavy continuous weight on the ankle or leg...
, but none were found.
External links
- Elmisaurus in The Dinosaur Encyclopaedia at Dino Russ' Lair