View source for Biology:Caenagnathasia

{{Short description|Extinct species of reptile}}
{{speciesbox
| fossil_range = [[Earth:Turonian|Turonian]]-[[Earth:Maastrichtian|Maastrichtian]], {{fossilrange|93|70.6}}
| image = Caenagnathasia martinsoni.jpg
| image_caption = Illustration of the lower jaw
| display_parents = 3
| genus = Caenagnathasia 
| species = martinsoni
| parent_authority = [[Biography:Philip J. Currie|Currie]] ''et al.'', 1994
| authority = Currie ''et al.'', 1994
}}

'''''Caenagnathasia''''' ('recent jaw from [[Earth:Asia|Asia]]') is a small [[Biology:Caenagnathidae|caenagnathid]] [[Biology:Oviraptorosauria|oviraptorosauria]]n theropod from the [[Earth:Late Cretaceous|Late Cretaceous]] of Uzbekistan.

==Discovery==
The [[Biology:Type species|type species]] ''Caenagnathasia martinsoni'' was named and described in 1994 by [[Biography:Philip J. Currie|Philip J. Currie]], Stephen Godfrey and Lev Nesov. The generic name is a combination of a reference to the species' placement in the [[Biology:Caenagnathidae|Caenagnathidae]], with Asia, the continent of its provenance. The [[Biology:Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] honours Gerbert Genrikhovich Martinson. The genus is based on [[Biology:Holotype|holotype]] '''N&nbsp;401/12457''', a pair of fused dentaries of the lower jaws. The specimen was found near Dzharakuduk in layers of the [[Earth:Bissekty Formation|Bissekty Formation]], dating to the [[Earth:Turonian|Turonian]]-[[Earth:Coniacian|Coniacian]], around 90 [[Physics:Mya (unit)|mya]], making it the oldest known caenagnathoid. A second specimen was referred to the species, N&nbsp;402/12457, a right dentary of a slightly smaller individual. Both individuals were adult.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Currie | first1 = P.J. | last2 = Godfrey | first2 = S.J. | last3 = Nessov | first3 = L. | year = 1994 | title = New caenagnathid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) specimens from the Upper Cretaceous of North America and Asia | journal = Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences | volume = 30 | issue = 10–11| pages = 2255–2272 | doi=10.1139/e93-196}}</ref> In 2015, new material of ''Caenagnathasia'' was described. From the same site as the holotype, the material includes various vertebrae, a dentary, and a [[Biology:Femur|femur]].<ref name="sues&averianov15">{{cite journal|last1=Sues|first1=H.-D.|last2=Averianov|first2=A.|year=2015|title=New material of ''Caenagnathasia martinsoni'' (Dinosauria: Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria) from the Bissekty Formation (Upper Cretaceous: Turonian) of Uzbekistan|journal=Cretaceous Research|volume=54|pages=50–59|doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2014.12.001}}</ref>

==Description==
''Caenagnathasia'' is the smallest known oviraptorosaur and one of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs. The jaw fragments are only a few centimetres long and total skull length has been estimated at {{convert|3|in|cm}}. A 2010 estimate by [[Biography:Gregory S. Paul|Gregory S. Paul]] gave it a length of {{convert|2|ft|m}} and a weight of {{convert|3|lb|kg}}.<ref>Paul, G.S., 2010, ''The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs'', Princeton University Press p. 152</ref> ''Caenagnathasia'' would presumably have resembled other oviraptorosaurs, which were feathered, bird-like dinosaurs with beaked skulls, long necks, and long limbs. Recent studies suggest it was one of the more primitive members of the Caenagnathidae.

==Classification==
''Caenagnathasia'' was originally assigned to the Caenagnathidae. It was even included in the definition of that clade published by Hans-Dieter Sues.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sues|first=Hans-Dieter|year=1997|title=On Chirostenotes, a Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from western North America|journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology|volume=17|issue=4|pages=698-716}}</ref> It has been suggested however, that it might have a more basal position in the [[Biology:Oviraptorosauria|Oviraptorosauria]], outside of the Caenagnathoidea.<ref name="Holtz2010">Holtz, Thomas R. Jr. (2010) ''Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages,'' [http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/dinoappendix/HoltzappendixWinter2010.pdf Winter 2010 Appendix.]</ref> In 2015 after the description of new material, it was found that ''Caenagnathasia'' could confidently be referred to Caenagnathidae.<ref name="sues&averianov15"/>
[[File:Caenagnathasia.jpg|thumb|Life restoration with purely hypothetical ecology]]
The below cladogram is based on that resolved in the description of ''Anzu''.<ref name=anzu>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0092022| title = A New Large-Bodied Oviraptorosaurian Theropod Dinosaur from the Latest Cretaceous of Western North America| journal = PLOS ONE| volume = 9| issue = 3| pages = e92022| year = 2014| last1 = Lamanna | first1 = M. C. | last2 = Sues | first2 = H. D. | last3 = Schachner | first3 = E. R. | last4 = Lyson | first4 = T. R. | pmid=24647078 | pmc=3960162| bibcode = 2014PLoSO...992022L| doi-access = free}}</ref>

{{clade| style=font-size:90%; line-height:90%
|label1=Caenagnathoidea
|1={{clade
|label1=[[Biology:Caenagnathidae|Caenagnathidae]]
|1={{clade
|1=''Microvenator celer''
|2={{clade
|1=''Gigantoraptor erlianensis''
|2={{clade
|1='''''Caenagnathasia martinsoni'''''
|2={{clade
|1=Alberta dentary morph 3
|8=''[[Biology:Leptorhynchos (dinosaur)|Leptorhynchos gaddisi]]''
|9={{clade
|1="Caenagnathus" ''sternbergi''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Biology:Anzu wyliei|Anzu wyliei]]''
|2=''Caenagnathus collinsi'' }} }} }} }} }} }}
|2=Oviraptoridae }} }}

==See also==
* [[Biology:Timeline of oviraptorosaur research|Timeline of oviraptorosaur research]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://the_dinosauria.tripod.com/caenagnathasia.html Image of ''C. martinsonii'' at The Dinosauria]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q134763}}

[[Category:Caenagnathids]]
[[Category:Bissekty Formation]]

{{Sourceattribution|Caenagnathasia}}