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Citipati

Dinosaur profile

Citipati

CarnivoreLate CretaceousSmall Theropod

Pronunciation

Sih-tee-pah-tee

Meaning

Funeral Pyre Lord

Type

Small Theropod

Length

2.1-3 meters long

Period

Late Cretaceous

Years

81-75 million years ago

Location

Mongolia

Diet

Carnivore

About Citipati

Citipati is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 75-71 million years ago. It was a small to medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur, with an estimated length of about 10-15 feet and a weight of about 100-200 pounds. Citipati had a small, triangular head with sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles, as well as long, slender legs and a long, whip-like tail. Its body was probably covered in a layer of feathers.

Citipati is known for its distinctive, elongated fingers and toes, which it may have used to grasp onto prey. It is considered a member of the oviraptorosaur group of theropods, which also includes species such as Oviraptor and Chirostenotes. Citipati is known from a number of well-preserved fossil specimens, including several partial skeletons and skulls, which have helped paleontologists learn more about the anatomy and behavior of this dinosaur. It is thought to be closely related to other oviraptorosaurids such as Oviraptor and Chirostenotes. Citipati is known from Mongolia, and its name means 'funeral pyre lord' in reference to the fact that it was first discovered in the same area as a number of dinosaur eggs and a probable nesting site.

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