Wednesday, March 28, 2007

New Mongolian Raptors

From LiveScience.com:
A new dromaeosaurid theropod from Ukhaa Tolgod (Ömnögov, Mongolia). 2006. Mark A. Norell et al. American Museum Novitates.
Tsaagan mangas was unearthed in 1993 but only recently identified as a new raptor species. Credit: Mark Norell
Tsaagan mangas, was found in the Ukhaa Tolgod region of Mongolia. Tsaagan was slightly larger than a turkey and its skull is one of the best preserved dromaeosaurid skulls ever found.
A small derived theropod from Öösh, early Cretaceous, Baykhangor Mongolia 2007. Alan H. Turner, et al. American Museum Novitates.


Fragments of a jawbone from the second raptor, Shanag ashile (above), was found in the Oosh region of Mongolia. It lived about 20 million years before Tsaagan and was probably much smaller, about the size of a small raven. Shanag likely resembled Microraptor, Turner said, a feathered bird-like dinosaur discovered in China that scientists think coasted between trees on two sets of wings.