Tsaagan mangas - new dromaeosaurid from Mongolia

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Norell, M.A., Clark, J.M., Turner, A.H., Makovicky, P.J., Barsbold, R., and 
Rowe, T. (2006).
A new dromaeosaurid theropod from Ukhaa Tolgod (Omnogov, Mongolia).  
American Museum Novitates 3545: 1-51.

Abstract: "We describe a new dromaeosaurid theropod from the Upper 
Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation of Ukhaa Tolgod, Mongolia.  The new taxon, 
_Tsaagan mangas_, consists of a well-preserved skull and cervical series.  
This specimen marks only the second dromaeosaurid taxon from a formation 
that has otherwise yielded numerous specimens of _Velociraptor 
mongoliensis_, and _Tsaagan mangas_ is the only dromaeosaurid known from 
Ukhaa Tolgod beyond sporadic occurrences of isolated teeth.  _Tsaagan 
mangas_ differs from other dromaeosaurids in the possession of a straight, 
untwisted, and pendulous paroccipital process, a large and anteriorly 
located maxillary fenestra, and a jugal?squamosal contact that excludes the 
postorbital from the margin of the infratemporal fenestra.  The phylogenetic 
affinities of _Tsaagan mangas_ are determined through a comprehensive 
phylogenetic analysis of Coelurosauria, confirming its position within 
Dromaeosauridae.  This new specimen, coupled with CT imaging, provides new 
information on the skull and braincase anatomy of dromaeosaurids."

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