Shishugounykus inexpectus

† Shishugounykus inexpectus is a Late Jurassic alvarezsauroid from the Shishugou Formation of Xinjiang, China. This early member of the alvarezsauroid lineage predates the highly derived monodigit condition seen in later Cretaceous forms.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Shishugounykus inexpectus 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

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Shishugounykus inexpectus lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161,5 to 145,0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.