Archaeornithoides
Archaeornithoides was a tiny, bird-like dinosaur that lived in what is now Mongolia. It was one of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs ever found, about the size of a chicken. Scientists think it may have been a close relative of birds.1
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Fun facts
The only known fossil of Archaeornithoides is a tiny skull and jaw fragment, just 27 millimetres long.1
The fossil has bite marks on it, and scientists think a weasel-sized mammal called Deltatheridium may have bitten off the dinosaur's head.1
This dinosaur lived about 83 to 72 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period.2
Its name means 'shaped like an ancient bird' because it had many bird-like features in its skull.1
Some scientists think Archaeornithoides might be a baby of another troodontid dinosaur, but others believe it is a distinct species.1
The fossil was found in 1965 by a Polish-Mongolian expedition, but it wasn't named until 1992.1
Most asked questions about Archaeornithoides
?How big was Archaeornithoides?
About 50 to 60 centimetres long, based on the only known fossil, which was a juvenile. Adult size is not known for sure.1
?What did Archaeornithoides eat?
It was a carnivore, meaning it ate meat. Its small, smooth teeth were good for catching tiny prey.31
?Did Archaeornithoides have feathers?
No fossil feathers have been found with Archaeornithoides, but because it was a close relative of birds and troodontids, many scientists think it probably had feathers.1
?Is Archaeornithoides a bird?
No, it is a non-avian dinosaur, not a bird. But its skull had many bird-like features, which is why its name means 'shaped like an ancient bird'.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Archaeornithoides was a bird.
Truth: It was a non-avian dinosaur, though it had many bird-like features and was once thought to be the closest relative of birds.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Archaeornithoides
- Named by
- Elzanowski and Wellnhofer 19924
- Group
- Raptors
- Family / clade
- Troodontidae4
- Classification
- Theropoda > Troodontidae4
- Age of the rocks
- 84 to 72 million years (Campanian)4
- Rock formations
- Djadokhta4
- Countries
- Mongolia4
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database4
- Discovery
- The fossil was found in 1965 at Bayn Dzak, Mongolia, by a Polish-Mongolian expedition. It was named Archaeornithoides deinosauriscus by Andrzej Elzanowski and Peter Wellnhofer in 1992.1
- Still debated
- Scientists are not sure if Archaeornithoides is a distinct species or a juvenile of another troodontid dinosaur like Saurornithoides or Byronosaurus.1
Where the facts come from
- Archaeornithoides (en.wikipedia.org)
- PBDB Taxon (paleobiodb.org)
- Archaeornithoides — Facts, Size, Diet & Pronunciation | Types of Dinosaurs (typesofdinosaurs.com)
- Archaeornithoides in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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