Bagaraatan is a type of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 70 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in Mongolia, specifically in a place called the Nemegt Formation.
This dinosaur was not as large as some of its relatives; it is estimated to have been about 3 to 4 meters long, which is roughly the length of a small car or a big dog.
The first person to describe Bagaraatan was a scientist named Halszka Osmólska in 1996. She identified it as a unique species, calling it Bagaraatan ostromi. Initially, some of its bones looked like those of birds, while others shared features with different groups of theropods.
Over time, researchers discovered that some of the bones initially thought to belong to Bagaraatan actually belonged to other dinosaurs. This led to new conclusions about its classification. Some scientists believe Bagaraatan is a juvenile or young member of the tyrannosaur family, possibly a small cousin of famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex.
Various experts have compared Bagaraatan to other dinosaur groups. Some say it is closely related to the tyrannosaur family, while others suggested it might belong to different groups altogether.
In recent studies, scientists have made it clear that while Bagaraatan’s exact place in the dinosaur family tree is still uncertain, it is likely linked to tyrannosaurs. Because it is thought to be a young dinosaur, it might look different from adult dinosaurs, which complicates where it fits.
Overall, Bagaraatan helps us understand more about the diversity and evolution of dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous period. Its fossils provide clues about how these ancient creatures lived and adapted in their environments.