Mahakala is a genus of halszkaraptorine theropod dinosaur from the Campanian-age Upper Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation of Ömnögovi, Mongolia. It is based on a partial skeleton found in the Gobi Desert. Mahakala was a small dromaeosaurid, and its skeleton shows features that are also found in early troodontids and avialans. Despite its late appearance, it is among the most basal dromaeosaurids. Its small size, and the small size of other basal deinonychosaurians, suggests that small size appeared before flight capability in birds. The genus is named for Mahakala, one of eight protector deities (dharmapalas) in Tibetan Buddhism.
Mahakala omnogovae
2009 skeletal reconstruction of Mahakala as a generic deinonychosaur
Size compared to a human, reconstructed as a generic deinonychosaur
The Djadochta Formation is a highly fossiliferous geological formation situated in Central Asia, Gobi Desert, dating from the Late Cretaceous period, about 75 million to 71 million years ago. The type locality is the Bayn Dzak locality, famously known as the Flaming Cliffs. Reptile and mammal remains are among the fossils recovered from the formation.
Bayn Dzak (Flaming Cliffs), the type locality of the Djadochta Formation
Exposures at the Flaming Cliffs
Articulated Protoceratops from Tugriken Shireh. This dinosaur is one of the most common occurrences in the Djadochta Formation
Image: Bayanzag