Xixianykus zhangi

† Xixianykus zhangi is a Late Cretaceous alvarezsaurid from the Majiacun Formation of Henan Province, China. This small-bodied maniraptoran with reduced forelimbs adapted for digging illustrates the extreme specialization achieved by Cretaceous alvarezsaurids.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Xixianykus zhangi 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

Xixianykus zhangi 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.