Oviraptor

Oviraptor was a small genus of dinosaur which lived in the late Cretaceous period. It featured a toothless beak with strong muscles for crushing hard-shelled food like eggs or shellfish. Implied behavioral patterns and skeletal features suggest that oviraptor closely resembled modern-day birds.

Fast Facts

1. Pronounced: o-vih-RAP-tor
2. Name means: "Egg Thief"
3. Discovered in 1924 by Roy Chapman Andrews
4. Classification:
   1. Order: Saurischia
   2. Infraorder: Coeluosauria
   3. Family: Oviraptoridae
   4. Genus: Oviraptor¹
5. Diet: Carnivore
6. Length: 9 to 29 feet
7. Height: Up to 12 feet
8. Time period: 97 million to 65 million years ago²

Reformed Thief

The first oviraptor fossil was found next to a clutch of Protoceratops eggs. Because oviraptor had a strong beak apparently made for crushing hard objects, it was believed that oviraptor pilfered eggs for its meals. But this theory has come under some scrutiny. Analysis of the eggs in the nest showed that they were in fact oviraptor eggs. Another specimen was discovered sitting on top of its nest, guarding it like modern birds guard their nests.³

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