bittikiirus

Bittikiirus is a genus of herbivorous dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 75 million years ago. The genus is known from a single species, Bittikiirus sinensis, which was discovered in the Yixian Formation of northeastern China. Bittikiirus is notable for its unique combination of features, including a long, slender snout, small teeth, and a distinctive skull shape.

The skull of Bittikiirus is characterized by a long, narrow rostrum (snout) that tapers to a point, and a series of small, conical teeth that are evenly spaced along the jawline. The teeth are not specialized for crushing or cutting, suggesting that Bittikiirus may have fed on soft plant material. The skull also features a large, open nasal cavity, which may have been used for respiration or olfaction.

Bittikiirus is estimated to have been about 2 meters (6.6 feet) long and weighed around 10 kilograms (22 pounds). It is believed to have been a bipedal (two-legged) dinosaur, with long, slender legs and a relatively small body size. The genus is named after the Biti River, which flows through the region where the fossil was discovered, and the Greek word "kiros," meaning "tail," in reference to the long, slender tail of the dinosaur.

Bittikiirus is one of the earliest known dinosaurs to exhibit a suite of features that are characteristic of birds, including a long, slender snout, small teeth, and a light, hollow bone structure. This has led some scientists to suggest that Bittikiirus may have been an early ancestor of birds. However, the relationship between Bittikiirus and other dinosaurs remains uncertain, and further research is needed to fully understand the evolutionary history of this unique genus.