Cretaceous
Mononykus
Mononykus olecranus
The catalogue presents Mononykus as a carnivore member of Mononykidae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 83.6–72.2 Ma. Its estimated range is 1.0–1.2 m in length and 2–4 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Nemegt Formation, Mongolia. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Mononykus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Perle et al. (1993).
The PBDB places it in Parvicursorinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Mononykidae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Mononykidae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Campanian to the Maastrichtian.
The PBDB catalogues 2 occurrences, with material from the Nemegt Formation (2). Provenance: Mongolia.
The catalogue records the holotype as GIN 107/6 and the type locality as “Nemegt Formation, Mongolia”.
- GIN 107/6
- Nemegt Formation, Mongolia
The catalogue's reference measurements are 1.0–1.2 m in length and 2–4 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 1.0-1.2 m
- 2-4 kg
The record gathers 36 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 1.0–1.2 m
- Weight
- 2–4 kg
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 83.6–72.2 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1993
- Described by
- Perle et al.
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Mononykidae
- Genus
- Mononykus
- Species
- o. olecranus
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- GIN 107/6
- Type locality
- Nemegt Formation, Mongolia