Shuvuuia deserti

† Shuvuuia deserti is a Late Cretaceous alvarezsaurid from the Djadochta Formation of Mongolia. This chicken-sized theropod bore a single functional forelimb claw and highly specialized skull with loose cranial bones, possibly adapted for insectivory.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Shuvuuia deserti was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Shuvuuia deserti lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.