Shanag is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 130 million years ago, in what is now Mongolia.
Shanag is one of the smaller predators, measuring about 1.5 meters long, which is roughly the size of a human. It weighed around 5 kilograms, about the weight of a small dog.
The name “Shanag” comes from a traditional Buddhist dance, while its species name, S. ashile, is linked to the geological formation where its fossils were discovered.
The first to describe Shanag were scientists Alan Turner, Sunny Hai-Ching Hwang, and Mark Norell in 2007. They found its remains in a layer of rock called the Öösh Formation.
Shanag looks similar to other small dinosaurs from China, like Microraptor. This suggests that the animals living in Mongolia around that time may have been somewhat similar to those found in other parts of Asia.
The fossil of Shanag includes important parts of its jaw, and its teeth were sharp and pointed, showing that it was a meat-eater.
As part of a group known as theropods, Shanag had feathers, hollow bones, and was likely warm-blooded. While it may not have been able to fly, its feathers could help it climb and keep warm.
The claws on one of its toes were strong and sharp, and they might have been used to hold onto prey, similar to modern birds of prey.
Over the years, scientists have debated where Shanag fits in the family tree of dinosaurs. Some think it is part of the Dromaeosauridae family, which includes well-known dinosaurs like Velociraptor. Others believe it may belong to different groups or be a more basic type of paravian theropod.
Overall, Shanag gives us valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous.