Conchoraptor

*Conchoraptor gracilis*

***Conchoraptor*** (meaning "conch plunderer") is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of what is now Asia. The oviraptorids were peculiar theropods. Smallish, bipedal animals with strong beaks, they may have fed on mollusks by crushing their shells to get the soft meat inside. For many years, only one oviraptorid, *Oviraptor philoceratops*, was known. Paleontologists classigied it as an ornithomimid because its skull was toothless. More oviraptorid specimens were discovered in the 1970s. These have been examined and descriptions were published of two new animals: *Oviraptor mongliensis* and *Conchoraptor gracilis*. The name of the latter species means "slender conch-stealer." Most scientists keep the oviraptorids in their own family, seperate from the "ostrich dinosaurs."

## Description

*Conchoraptor* was a smaller animal than its relative *Oviraptor*. The head of *Oviraptor* was decorated with bony crests, but *Conchoraptor* had no decoration. At first, it was thought that *Conchoraptor* was a juvenile *Oviraptor* and that the cranial crest developed at the beginning of maturity. Further study of more skeletons—especially the hands—showed that *Conchoraptor* was a different genus. Its hands seem to be a transitional form, or "missing link," between *Oviraptor* and the oviraptoidlike small theropod Ingenia. *Conchoraptor* was found in the Nemegt Formation of Bugeen-Tsav and Kherneen-Tsav, in Mongolia.

*Conchoraptor* was a small dinosaur, only 1–2 meters (3.3-6.6 feet) in length. Unlike many other oviraptorids, *Conchoraptor* lacked a head crest. Like its relatives, it lacked teeth. Instead of teeth, oviraptorids had powerful beaks, possibly adapted to crushing mollusk shells. The skull of *Conchoraptor* was heavily pneumatised, with most of the bones hollow. Internal connections between both ears functioned as resonance chambers and improved hearing.

## Discovery

When first discovered in the Red Beds of Hermiin Tsav of the Late Campanian Nemegt Formation by a Polish-Mongolian expedition in 1971, scientists believed that *Conchoraptor* was a juvenile *Oviraptor* and that the animal's missing crest would have begun to grow when the animal reaching sexual maturity. Further study of multiple skeletons showed that *Conchoraptor* belonged in a new genus. The hands of *Conchoraptor* were a major reason that scientists decided to split it off from *Oviraptor*. Anatomically the hands seemed to be an evolutionary intermediate between those of *Ajancingenia* and *Oviraptor*, making it obvious that this animal was not a member of a known species.

The type species of this new genus, *Conchoraptor gracilis*, was described and named by Barsbold, in 1986. The generic name is derived from Greek konkhè, "mussel", and Latin raptor, "plunderer". This name reflects Barsbold's hypothesis that oviraptorids, rather than preying primarily upon eggs as had been traditionally thought, may have been specialized to feed on mollusks. The specific name means "gracile" in Latin. The holotype is IGM 100/20, a partial skeleton with skull. Later about two dozen specimens were formally referred to the species.

## Classification

*Conchoraptor* was by Barsbold assigned to the Oviraptoridae in 1986. Recent analyses show it was a member of the oviraptorid subfamily Ingeniinae (now Heyuanninae). The cladogram below follows an analysis by Fanti *et al.*, 2012.

## JPInstitute.com Description

Conchoraptor was a small member of family of dinosaurs that includes Oviraptor. These dinosaurs have been a puzzle to scientists for many years. Their unusual beaks have led to several theories regarding their eating habits. Some think that Conchoraptor ate clams and other shellfish. Many scientists now believe that members of this dinosaur family were ancestors of some modern birds and would have had feathers.

At first, Conchoraptor was thought to be a young Oviraptor, but further study indicated it warranted a new genus.

## Links

https://web.archive.org/web/20031006234146fw\_/http://www.jpinstitute.com/dinopedia/dinocards/dc\_conch.html