Oviraptorosauria

Body mass evolution of Oviraptorosauria. Time calibrated phenograms of Log10 Body Mass (kg) versus time (Ma) for Oviraptorosauria. Blue halos represent 95% confi- dence intervals and branches indicate phylogenetic relation- ships. Each plot displays the same data, but Caenagnathidae is highlighted in green in (A) and Oviraptoridae is highlighted in red in (B) for clarity. Yellow arrows indicate nodes where important changes in body size range occur. Pie charts show ancestral estimations of biogeographic range (as in Fig. 20) for important clades of caenagnathids (A) and oviraptorids (B). Node labels from left to right in (A): Oviraptorosauria; Caenagnathidae; Anomalipes + Caenagnathinae; Caenagnathinae more derived than Apatoraptor pennatus; Anzu + Caenagnathus. Node labels from left to right in (B): Oviraptorosauria; Caenagnathoidea; Oviraptoridae; Heyuanninae (bottom); Citipatinae (top). Colours for node labels as in Fig. 20. Abbreviations: Al, Albian; Ap, Aptian; Ba, Barremian; Be, Berriasian; Ca, Campanian; Ce, Cenomanian; Co, Coniacian; Ha, Hauterivian; Ma, Maastrichtian; S, Santonian; Tu, Turonian; Va, Valanginian.

Anzu is a fairly large caenagnathid oviraptorosaurian dinosaur that grew to nearly 4 m in length, and weighed 200-300 kg. It was a bipedal dinosaur and was covered in feathers, with a large sloping crest atop its head. Typical of oviraptorosaurs, Anzu had a short toothless beak, an adaptation that suggests it was most likely herbivorous or possibly omnivorous.

MRF 319, a partial oviraptorosaurian skeleton referred to Anzu wyliei. (A) Skeletal reconstruction in left lateral view, with preserved bones in gray and bones represented in other Anzu specimens in white (hatching indicates heavily reconstructed portions of the ilia of CM 78001). Middle-posterior (ninth?) cervical vertebra in (B) anterior, (C) left lateral, and (D) dorsal views. Posterior (11th?) cervical vertebra in (E) anterior, (F) left lateral, and (G) dorsal views. Posterior (12th?) cervical vertebra in (H) anterior, (I) left lateral, and (J) dorsal views. Anteroposteriorly crushed left radius in lateral (K) and anterior (L) views. Mediolaterally crushed left ulna in lateral (M) and anterior (N) views. (O) Partial left scapulocoracoid in lateral view. Dorsal rib in anterior (P) and posterior (Q) views. Abbreviations: acr, acromial process; cr, cervical rib; dip, distal processes; pat, pathology; pf, pneumatic fossa. Scale bars = 50 cm in A; 1 cm in B–Q.

MRF 319, a partial oviraptorosaurian skeleton referred to Anzu wyliei. Skeletal reconstruction in left lateral view, with preserved bones in gray and bones represented in other Anzu specimens in white (hatching indicates heavily reconstructed portions of the ilia. Scale bar = 50 cm (19.7 in)