Sign In to see what this sold for
A VERY RARE & COMPLETE RAPTOR LEG
Khaan mckennai
Late Cretaceous - 75 Million Years Old
Djadochta Formation
Mongolia
Khaan was a large and robust variety of Oviraptor that was about 2-3 meters long and 1.5-2 meters tall. Oviraptorids were carnivorous theropod dinosaurs that were unusual in that they did not possess teeth but instead had beaks like a modern Parrot's. These sharp beaks and their arsenal of deadly foot and hand claws still made them very dangerous predators to the small dinosaurs, reptiles and mammals that they likely preyed upon. The oviraptorids were dominant in the small carnivore niche and probably competed with their toothed cousins, the Velociraptors and Troodontids for the smaller fauna of the time.
The name "Oviraptor", meaning "egg-thief" in Latin, was originally assigned these interesting dinosaurs because the holotype specimen was found in a supposed Protoceratops egg nest and thus, was considered to be an nest raider . Only later were specimens found that showed complete oviraptorids preserved sitting on the nests, incubating the eggs, proving that these unusual dinosaurs were the source of these spectacular egg nests and not nest predators.
The specimen offered here is a spectacular complete leg of Khaan, the largest of the oviraptorids. Every bone and claw was found articulated in a state of superb preservation after 75 million years of burial. An exceptional, pristine specimen of matchless quality, exhibiting a gorgeous red-brown color with black dendrites and checking, and measuring 23 inches tall.
Sign In to see what this sold for
View Bid Increments & Buyer's Premium
| Estimate | $15,000 - $18,000 |
| Starting Bid | $7,500 |
Contact
