Cretaceous
Shuuvuia
Shuuvuia deserti
The catalogue presents Shuuvuia as a carnivore member of Alvarezsauridae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 75.0–71.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 0.5–0.6 m in length and 0.5–1.0 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Djadochta Formation, Mongolia. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Shuuvuia, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Chiappe et al. (1998).
The PBDB places it in Mononykini, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Alvarezsauridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Alvarezsauridae
The catalogue records the holotype as GIN 100/975 and the type locality as “Djadochta Formation, Mongolia”.
- GIN 100/975
- Djadochta Formation, Mongolia
The catalogue's reference measurements are 0.5–0.6 m in length and 0.5–1.0 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 0.5-0.6 m
- 0.5-1.0 kg
The record gathers 3 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
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
- 0.5–0.6 m
- Weight
- 0.5–1.0 kg
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 75.0–71.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1998
- Described by
- Chiappe et al.
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Alvarezsauridae
- Genus
- Shuuvuia
- Species
- d. deserti
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 100/975
- Type locality
- Djadochta Formation, Mongolia