Khaan

Khaan mckennai, drawing head study

• Mongolia ( Djadochta Formation)

• Khaan mckennai

Khaan is a theropod dinosaur from the group of Oviraptorosauria from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. The only type ( type species ) this genus is Khaan mckennai.

Within the Oviraptorosauria Khaan is classified as Oviraptoridae. Like other Oviraptorosauria Khaan was a biped, probably feathered animal that had a toothless beak and probably malnourished plant or omnivorous.

Discoveries and naming

Khaan is known by three skeletons with skulls that have been found in Ömnö Gobi Aimag, a Aimag of Mongolia. Stratigraphic include the findings for Djadochta lineup and in the Upper Cretaceous (late Campanian ).

The holotype material (catalog number IGM 100/1127 ) is a complete skeleton, while it is the skeleton found very close IGM 100/1002 to a nearly complete skeleton is, in which the posterior ( distal ) end of the tail is missing. IGM 100/973 is another nearly complete skeleton. Initially, the fossils have been tentatively attributed Ajancingenia until by the preparation characteristics were found mainly on the hands to light that indicate a distinct genus.

In 2001, the new breed of Clark, Norell and bars Bold was scientifically described.

The name Khaan is a Mongol ruler titles, while the Artepitheth mckennai Dr. Malcolm McKenna honors.

Features

Khaan was approximately 2 meters long. Similar Conchoraptor Khaan was missing a skull crest, as he is found in some other Oviraptoriden. Compared with Conchoraptor the claws of the first and second curved finger were also of the third metacarpal bone at the proximal end was reduced. The ilium ( ilium ) similar to that of " Ingenia " and Conchoraptor.