Haplocheirus is a genus of maniraptoromorphtheropod dinosaur. It is possibly the oldest known alvarezsauroid, predating all other members by about 63 million years.[1]Haplocheirus was described in 2010 from a fossil specimen found from the 160-million-year-old Shishugou Formation in the Junggar Basin of northwestern China.[2] The type species is H. sollers, meaning "simple-handed skillful one", referencing its hypothesized behavior of using its three-fingered hands for activities that other alvarezsauroids could not perform, such as catching prey.[1][3] A recent study considered Haplocheirus a compsognathid instead of an alvarezsauroid.[4]
Description
At around 2 meters long, Haplocheirus was either the largest alvarezsauroid or one of the largest compsognathids. It had an enlarged thumb claw like alvarezsaurids, but also retained two other functional fingers, unlike alvarezsaurids, where only the thumb was significantly large and clawed. It had long legs and was probably a fast runner.Haplocheirus is a genus of maniraptoromorphtheropod dinosaur. It is possibly the oldest known alvarezsauroid, predating all other members by about 63 million years.[1]Haplocheirus was described in 2010 from a fossil specimen found from the 160-million-year-old Shishugou Formation in the Junggar Basin of northwestern China.[2] The type species is H. sollers, meaning "simple-handed skillful one", referencing its hypothesized behavior of using its three-fingered hands for activities that other alvarezsauroids could not perform, such as catching prey.[1][3] A recent study considered Haplocheirus a compsognathid instead of an alvarezsauroid.[4]
Description
At around 2 meters long, Haplocheirus was either the largest alvarezsauroid or one of the largest compsognathids. It had an enlarged thumb claw like alvarezsaurids, but also retained two other functional fingers, unlike alvarezsaurids, where only the thumb was significantly large and clawed. It had long legs and was probably a fast runner.
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