Saurornithoides is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 75 million years ago.
This dinosaur was a small predator and belonged to the Troodontidae family, which includes other bird-like dinosaurs.
The name Saurornithoides comes from Greek words that mean “lizard bird form,” highlighting its bird-like features, especially its skull.
### Discovery
The first Saurornithoides fossils were found in Mongolia in 1923. Workers from an American Museum of Natural History expedition discovered these bones.
The most important fossil found was a skull and jaw. Other bones, like parts of the pelvis and legs, were also found nearby. Some bones initially thought to belong to Saurornithoides were later recognized as belonging to another dinosaur called Protoceratops.
In 1924, Henry Fairfield Osborn formally named the species Saurornithoides mongoliensis. He initially planned to name it Ornithoides, but later changed it to the name we use today.
### Description
Saurornithoides was a small dinosaur, about 2.3 meters long. It had many bird-like features, such as:
– Large eye sockets for good vision and depth perception
– A long, low head with sharp teeth
– A curved claw on the second toe, which could retract, similar to modern birds of prey
Its brain was relatively large for a dinosaur, which suggests Saurornithoides was likely smart and had good senses.
This dinosaur was built for speed, allowing it to run fast to catch small animals like mammals and reptiles.
A juvenile Saurornithoides found in 1993 showed that young members of this species were well-developed at birth and might not have needed much parental care.
### Classification
Initially, Saurornithoides was thought to be related to a group of different dinosaurs. In 1974, it was understood that it belonged to the Troodontidae family.
Today, researchers believe that Saurornithoides is closely related to other famous dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Troodon.
Overall, Saurornithoides represents an exciting part of dinosaur history, with its unique mix of characteristics that show how some dinosaurs were evolving towards the birds we see today.