A Review of the Mongolian Cretaceous Dinosaur Saurornithoides (Troodontidae: Theropoda)
Author
Norell, Mark A.
Author
Makovicky, Peter J.
Author
Bever, Gabe S.
Author
Balanoff, Amy M.
Author
Clark, James M.
Author
Barsbold, Rinchen
Author
Rowe, Timothy
text
American Museum Novitates
2009
2009-06-25
3654
1
64
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1206/648.1
journal article
10.1206/648.1
0003-0082
5357410
Zanabazar
,
new genus
TYPE
SPECIES
:
Zanabazar junior
(
Barsbold, 1974
)
.
DERIVATION OF NAME
: In honor of
Zanabazar
(1635–1723), the first Bogd Gegen of Mongolia.
INCLUDED
SPECIES
:
Type
species only
.
LOCALITY AND AGE: Nemegt Formation at Bugiin Tsav,
Omnogov Aimag
,
Mongolia
(figs. 2, 21). The Nemegt Formation overlies the Djadokhta Formation and is considered to be Maestrichtian based primarily upon the vertebrate fauna (
Jerzykiewicz and Russell, 1991
).
Fig. 21. Photograph of the Nemegt Formation at Bugiin Tsav, Omnogov Aimag, Mongolia showing the location (arrow) where the holotype of
Zanabazar junior
(IGM 100/1) was collected.
DIAGNOSIS: Differs from
Saurornithoides mongoliensis
and most other troodontids (save
Troodon formosus
) in lacking a small depression on the lateral wall of the braincase just dorsal to the trigeminal foramen. The
holotype
of
Zanabazar junior
is the largest published troodontid specimen (midline length of the skull 5
272 mm
), and is substantially larger than most other troodontid species. Only
Troodon formosus
appears to approach it in size. Differs from
Troodon formosus
in having a more ovoid-shaped foramen magnum, a posttemporal fenestra that is enclosed by an almost equal proportion of the exoccipital/opisthotic and squamosal (this same feature in
Troodon formosus
is formed almost entirely by the exoccipital/opisthotic), a deeper paroccipital process resulting in a different positon of the posttemporal fossa relative to the foramen magnum, and the lack of an osseous signature of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) in the laterosphenoid.