Almas is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 75 to 71 million years ago. It is from a family known as Troodontidae, which includes small, bird-like dinosaurs.
The only species within this genus is called Almas ukhaa. It was first named in 2017 by a group of scientists that included Pei Rui and other researchers. They based the name on a partial skeleton that was found in Mongolia.
The discovery of Almas dates back to 1993 when a team from the American Museum of Natural History and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences uncovered its fossil at a site known as Ukhaa Tolgod, located in the Flaming Cliffs. However, it wasn’t fully described until many years later.
The name “Almas” comes from a creature in Mongolian folklore that resembles a wild man. The specific name “ukhaa” refers to where the dinosaur was found.
The fossil, known as the holotype IGM 100/1323, is made up of various parts, including a skull and parts of the body. The skull was not connected to the rest of the body when it was found, but scientists believe they belong to the same dinosaur.
The skeleton appears to be that of a young dinosaur, as it represents a subadult individual. Nearby, some eggshells were discovered, belonging to a type of dinosaur egg known as Prismatoolithidae. These eggs are thought to be connected to Troodontidae dinosaurs.
In summary, Almas is an interesting dinosaur that helps us learn more about the diverse types of creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago.