Adasaurus
Adasaurus mongoliensis
Adasaurus ( AH-də-SOR-əs; meaning "evil lizard") is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period. The genus is known from two partial specimens found in the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia that were partially described in 1983 by the paleontologist Rinchen Barsbold.
Adasaurus was a large dromaeosaurid that was about 2.39–3.5 m (7.8–11.5 ft) long weighing 36.4–87 kg (80–192 lb). Unlike other dromaeosaurids, Adasaurus developed a rather small and blunt sickle claw that likely had a reduced use, and a recurved lacrimal bone; this latter trait is also shared with Austroraptor. Though reduced, the sickle claw retained the characteristic rounded articulation of most dromaeosaurids.
Adasaurus was originally regarded as a dromaeosaurine by Barsbold, a group that includes robust dromaeosaurs with deep jaws. Revisions made to the specimens have shown that this dromaeosaurid belongs to the Velociraptorinae, composed of more lightly-built animals like Velociraptor.
- Family
- Dromaeosauridae
- Order
- Saurischia
- Period
- Cretaceous (70 Ma)
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Length
- 1.8 m
- Weight
- 10 kg
- Type locality
- Omnogov, Mongolia
- Holotype
- GI 100/20
- PBDB
- txn:53027