Shuvuuia

Phylogeny: Dinosauria > Saurischia > Theropoda > Neotheropoda > Tetanurae > Avetheropoda > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Alvarezsauroidea > Alvarezsauridae > Parvicursorinae > Mononykini

Overview: Alvarezsaurids were among the most birdlike of the non-avian dinosaurs, though they’re not always classified as the closest among them to true birds. They were relatively closely related, being members of the larger clade Maniraptora, however. Members of this family tended to be on the smaller side. Skeletal reconstructions of the genus Shuvuuia have revealed it was no more than a meter in length, with a number of its relatives being even smaller. In general, they were slender, lightly built animals with long legs, implying decent potential for agility and speed. Shuvuuia lacked any obvious armor or defensive adaptations, so evasion was its only defense, potential camouflage not included. Fossil evidence around skeletal material of Shuvuuia itself reveals that alvarezsaurids possessed at least simple feathery coats in life, which is to be expected of maniraptorans.

Shuvuuia, like other alvarezsaurids, had remarkably tiny arms, sporting only a single clawed digit, as well as maybe two other, barely noticeable digits. With their needle-like teeth and narrow jaws, the alvarezsaurids are often interpreted as insectivores, possibly using their claws to break open hives, termite mounds or rotten logs. Shuvuuia itself may’ve been a food source for predatory dinosaurs like Velociraptor, which shared its arid, desert-like environment. Other dinosaurs known from this same region included Protoceratops and Oviraptor. Fossils of Shuvuuia are known from the rocks of Mongolia’s Djadochta Formation, together making up most of the animal’s skeleton. Described in 1998, the creature’s generic name is taken from the Mongolian word for “bird”. The full name of the type species, Shuvuuia deserti, literally means “desert bird”, referring to its habitat.