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A Mishmash of Bones
When Byronosaurus was discovered in the Gobi Desert in the 1990s, its bones were mixed with the bones of at least one other animal. When newly eroded bones are found all mixed up like this, paleontologists call the mixture of bones and rock "float." To figure out which bones belonged to which animal, the scientists had to dig into their knowledge of dinosaur anatomy. It took a lot of work, but eventually scientists were able to sort through all of the bones and even put Byronosaurus' skull back together.
Locality Found: Mongolia
Age: Cretaceous 80 MYA
Size: 5 inches long
Prepared For: 2000 Museum exhibit Fighting Dinosaurs
Characteristics: Scientists believe that this small carnivorous dinosaur had a large brain, and is also an ancestor of the modern bird.
What is the nickname of the Mongolian locality where Byronosaurus was found?
Big Mamma
Camel Humps
Wishbone Central
Correct!
This locality gets its nickname from a famous fossil found here in the 1990s—an adult oviraptorid brooding over a nest of eggs.
Scientists think that the position of Byronosaurus' eyes made it difficult for this dinosaur to hunt its prey.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fiction
Since its large eyes faced forward, Byronosaurus could probably tell how far away its prey was—making it a very good hunter.
“
Byronosaurus is a small animal, about the size of a turkey.
„
Mark Norell, paleontologist