Anzu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AnzuTemporal range: Upper Cretaceous
66 mya |
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| Reconstructed skeleton, Carnegie Museum of Natural History | |
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Caenagnathidae
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Anzu
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Anzu was a type of dinosaur called an oviraptorosaur. It lived about 66 million years ago, during the very end of the Cretaceous Period. Its fossils have been found in North Dakota and South Dakota, USA. The most famous species is Anzu wyliei.
This dinosaur had a beak with no teeth. It also had a large crest on its head. Anzu had long arms with slender claws. Its legs were strong, ending in thin toes. It also had a very long tail.
Anzu was quite large for an oviraptorosaur. It grew to be about 3 metres (9.8 ft) to 3.5 metres (11 ft) long. It weighed between 200 kilograms (440 lb) and 300 kilograms (660 lb). This made it one of the biggest oviraptorosaurs found in North America. A much larger one, Gigantoraptor, lived in Mongolia.
Contents
Discovering the "Chicken from Hell"
The discovery of Anzu wyliei was very important. It was the first time scientists found a nearly complete skeleton of an oviraptorosaur in North America. Before this, only small bone pieces had been found.
A paleontologist from the Smithsonian explained how exciting this was. For almost 100 years, scientists didn't know much about these dinosaurs in North America. Anzu wyliei finally showed them what this species looked like. It also helped them understand how it was related to other dinosaurs.
Because of its unique look, Anzu was jokingly called the "chicken from hell." This name came from its big head crest, beak, and bird-like bones.
Where Anzu Lived
The fossils of Anzu wyliei were found in mudstone rock. This rock was once part of ancient floodplains. This means Anzu lived in wet, swampy areas. This is different from its relatives in Asia, who lived in dry or semi-dry places.
What Anzu Was Like
Scientists believe Anzu was a fast-running animal. It was an "ecological generalist." This means it ate many different kinds of food. It didn't just eat meat or just plants. It probably ate both.
Anzu was not a direct ancestor of modern birds. But it did have many bird-like features. It likely behaved in ways that remind us of birds today. It had a mix of features from both dinosaurs like T. rex and birds like sparrows.
The Mystery of the Crest
Anzus most noticeable feature was its large head crest. This crest was very thin and fragile. It was not strong enough to be used for fighting. All oviraptorosaurs had a crest, but Anzus was the biggest.
Scientists think the crest was used for display. This means it might have been used to show off to other Anzu dinosaurs. It could have helped them recognize each other. It might also have been used to attract a mate.
Injuries and Life
Some Anzu fossils show signs of injuries. One fossil had a healed broken rib. Another had an arthritic toe. This toe injury likely happened when a tendon was pulled away from the bone.
Scientists are not sure how these injuries happened. It's possible the dinosaurs fought each other. Or, they might have been injured by predators.
Images for kids
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Life restoration
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Map of locations yielding Anzu specimens (stars)
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Illustrations of selected elements of the two specimens held at Carnegie Museum (CM 78000 and CM 78001)
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Photos of the skull elements of the Carnegie specimens
See also
In Spanish: Anzu para niños
