Adasaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AdasaurusTemporal range: Upper Cretaceous
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Adasaurus
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Adasaurus was a type of dinosaur called a Dromaeosaur. These dinosaurs were known for being fast and smart hunters. Adasaurus lived a long, long time ago, during the Upper Cretaceous period. That was about 74 to 65 million years ago! It roamed the lands of what is now Central Asia.
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Adasaurus: The Swift Hunter
What Was Adasaurus?
Adasaurus was a small meat-eating dinosaur. It was a theropod, which means it walked on two legs. An adult Adasaurus was probably about 6.2 feet (2 meters) long. That's roughly the height of a tall person!
One special thing about Adasaurus was its feet. It had a large, curved claw on the second toe of each back foot. This claw was shaped like a sickle. Many dromaeosaurs used these claws to hunt. They might have used them to grab onto their prey.
Where Did Adasaurus Live?
Scientists have found two Adasaurus fossils so far. Both of these amazing finds came from the Gobi Desert. This desert is located in southern Mongolia.
The first fossil was an almost complete skeleton. It included parts of the skull and most of the backbone. It also had bones from the hips, shoulders, and back legs. The second fossil was the back part of another skeleton. It also included the hindlimbs.
Today, both of these precious fossils are kept safe. They are in the collection of the Mongolian Geological Institute. This institute is in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia.
How Old Are Adasaurus Fossils?
It can be tricky to know the exact age of dinosaur fossils. The rocks where Adasaurus was found are from the Cretaceous period. Scientists believe these rocks are between 74 and 65 million years old. This makes Adasaurus one of the last dinosaurs to live on Earth.
Many other dinosaurs lived in the same area. Some of these include the giant Tarbosaurus. There was also the bird-like Anserimimus. Another dinosaur found there was the duck-billed Saurolophus.
Images for kids
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Fossil localities in Mongolia. The fossil remains of Adasaurus have been found in Bügiin Tsav, at Area A
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Size comparison of the holotype and paratype to an 1.8 m tall human
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Labelled diagram of the holotype right pelvis
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Comparison between some members of Velociraptorinae, featuring Linheraptor, Tsaagan and Velociraptor
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Proposed scenarios for the sickle claw function, with C, D and F as the more supported behaviors
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Life restoration showing the reduced sickle claw; Adasaurus may have used this appendage with less frequency than other dromaeosaurids
See also
In Spanish: Adasaurus mongoliensis para niños
