Caenagnathidae

† Caenagnathidae is a family of oviraptorosaurian theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Asia and North America. Caenagnathids were omnivorous, toothless theropods with deep, laterally compressed beaks, robust forelimbs, and elaborate cranial crests in some taxa. Ranging from turkey-sized to giant forms such as Anzu wyliei, the family thrived in Late Cretaceous ecosystems. Material attributable to the family has been reported from Kazakhstan among other Central Asian localities.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivore

Caenagnathidae had a varied diet that included both plants and animals. Omnivorous dinosaurs were versatile feeders, able to exploit multiple food sources, which gave them an advantage in changing environments.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Caenagnathidae 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.