Mononykus olecranus

† Mononykus olecranus is the type species of Mononykus, a Late Cretaceous alvarezsaurid from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. A cursorial insectivore ~1 m long with a highly modified single-clawed forelimb anatomy.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Mononykus olecranus 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

Mononykus olecranus 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.