Conchoraptor

Conchoraptor is a genus of small theropod dinosaurs belonging to the family Oviraptoridae, from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. The type species, Conchoraptor gracilis, was named in 1986 from fossils found in the Djadochta Formation. The name combines concho- (shell) with raptor, reflecting the early view of oviraptorids as egg thieves; gracilis means slender.

Anatomy and appearance: Conchoraptor was relatively small for an oviraptorid, with an elongated, usually beaked snout and a toothless palate. Like other oviraptorids, it possessed a tall skull and short forelimbs with robust claws. The hind limbs indicate a bipedal gait, and the tail was long and flexible.

Paleobiology: As with its relatives, Conchoraptor is interpreted as omnivorous, potentially feeding on a mix of plants, small animals, and eggs. Many oviraptorids are known from nests or nesting-related contexts, but direct evidence of nesting behavior for Conchoraptor is limited.

Paleoenvironment: Fossils originate from the Mongolian Gobi Desert, a desert/aeolian depositional environment from the Late Cretaceous, which preserved a diverse assemblage of theropods and other dinosaurs.

Taxonomy: Conchoraptor is placed within Oviraptoridae, a clade of bird-like theropods closely related to Caenagnathidae within the broader Oviraptorosauria. The genus helps illustrate the diversity and morphological variety of oviraptorids in Asia during the Late Cretaceous.