08Mesozoic
Velociraptor
Velociraptor mongoliensis
This turkey-sized feathered predator carried a raised sickle claw on each foot.
Mongolia · Northern China
EXTINCT ATLAS WIKIEXTINCT LIFE ARCHIVEBack to archiveDinosaurs by continent
Dinosaurs of Asia
Browse Asian dinosaurs from Chinese feathered fossils to Mongolian desert discoveries and Siberian records, with links to their individual evidence.
Places, environments and evidence
The Chinese profiles include Microraptor, Caudipteryx and Mamenchisaurus; Mongolia adds Oviraptor, Therizinosaurus and Deinocheirus. These animals represent different ages, body plans and environments. Country pages narrow the continental selection using named modern localities rather than assuming that every Asian animal occurred in China.
46Mesozoic
Oviraptor
Oviraptor philoceratops
The supposed egg thief was found above a nest that probably contained its own young.
Mongolian Plateau
47Mesozoic
Therizinosaurus
Therizinosaurus cheloniformis
Meter-long hand claws belonged to a tall, feathered, pot-bellied herbivore.
Mongolian Plateau
50Mesozoic
Protoceratops
Protoceratops andrewsi
This sheep-sized horned dinosaur carried a deep beak and broad neck frill.
Mongolia · Northern China
54Mesozoic
Microraptor
Microraptor gui
Long flight feathers on all four limbs formed a remarkable aerial surface.
Northeastern China
55Mesozoic
Yi qi
Yi qi
Membranous wings supported by long fingers and a rod-like styliform element projecting from the wrist differed from the feathered wings of birds.
Northeastern China
87Mesozoic
Psittacosaurus
Psittacosaurus mongoliensis
A deep parrot-like beak helped this early horned dinosaur process plants; this record distinguishes P. mongoliensis from other specimens of the genus.
Interior East Asia · Mongolia and northern China
108Mesozoic
Deinocheirus
Deinocheirus mirificus
Huge arms, a broad bill, a tall back and wide feet formed one of the strangest dinosaur silhouettes.
Mongolian Plateau
172Mesozoic
Mononykus
Mononykus olecranus
Each tiny forearm ended in one stout main claw, perhaps used to tear open insect nests like a modern anteater.
Semiarid dunes and river valleys of Mongolia
230Mesozoic
Mamenchisaurus
Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis
Nineteen elongated neck vertebrae placed nearly half the body's length in the neck, lightened internally by air spaces.
Lake and river woodland · Southwestern China
231Mesozoic
Sinosauropteryx
Sinosauropteryx prima
Simple filamentous feathers and tail color bands made it the first dinosaur restored with evidence-based coloration.
Volcanic lakes and woodland · Liaoning, China
232Mesozoic
Caudipteryx
Caudipteryx zoui
Orderly vaned feathers covered its arms and short tail, but symmetric feathers and body proportions prevented powered flight.
Lakeside forest · Liaoning, China
329Mesozoic
Halszkaraptor
Halszkaraptor escuilliei
A long neck, dense teeth and paddle-like arms suggest a semiaquatic raptor.
Lakes and rivers · Mongolia
332Mesozoic
Epidexipteryx
Epidexipteryx hui
Four long tail feathers displayed rather than powering flight.
Forested lakeshores · Inner Mongolia, China
456Mesozoic
Kulindadromeus
Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus
Scales, simple filaments and branching feather-like structures covered one small herbivore.
Lakeshore woodland · Siberia, Russia
537Mesozoic
Tarchia
Tarchia kielanae
Heavy skull armor, neck rings and a tail club belonged to a large Gobi ankylosaur.
Dry valleys and scrub · Mongolia
563Mesozoic
Monolophosaurus
Monolophosaurus jiangi
A single crest running from snout to skull roof gave this medium theropod a distinctive profile.
Lakeshore and river plain · Xinjiang, China
Common questions
Are Mongolia and Inner Mongolia the same locality?
No. Mongolia is a country; Inner Mongolia is a region of China. Read the country and locality in each record instead of matching the word Mongolia alone.