Oviraptor is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period. The first remains were collected from the Djadokhta Formation of Mongolia in 1923 during a paleontological expedition led by Roy Chapman Andrews, and in the following year the genus and type species Oviraptor philoceratops were named by Henry Fairfield Osborn. The genus name refers to the initial thought of egg-stealing habits, and the specific name was intended to reinforce this view indicating a preference over ceratopsian eggs. Despite the fact that numerous specimens have been referred to the genus, Oviraptor is only known from a single partial skeleton regarded as the holotype, as well as a nest of about fifteen eggs and several small fragments from a juvenile.
Oviraptor
The Flaming Cliffs of Mongolia in the Gobi Desert. The holotype remains of Oviraptor were found in this highly fossiliferous locality of the Djadokhta Formation
Nest AMNH 6508, which was found in association with the holotype
Mounted MPC-D 100/42; a specimen that became the major reference for Oviraptor but was later disproven due to cranial differences
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 possible oviraptorids were enormous. Oviraptorids are currently known only from the Late Cretaceous of Asia, with the most well-known species and complete specimens found only in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and northwestern China.
Oviraptoridae
Skull of Oksoko
Oviraptorid profiles
Skull of Nemegtomaia, featuring deep lower jaws and a large palatal region