Saurornithoides
genus of reptiles (fossil)
Saurornithoides was a fast running dinosaur from 79 million years ago. It was related to Troodon. Its fossils have been found in Mongolia and China.
| Saurornithoides Temporal range: Upper Cretaceous
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| Genus: | Saurornithoides Osborn, 1924
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Like its cousin Troodon, Saurornithoides was an intelligent predator, with large eyes and good vision. It had a retractable, sickle-shaped claw on the second claw of each foot that was used for attacking prey. Saurornithoides probably fed on small prey, such as lizards, frogs, insects, and small mammals. It may also have hunted in packs to bring down other dinosaurs. Saurornithoides was discovered in the Gobi Desert on an expedition in the 1920s. The dinosaurs Velociraptor, Protoceratops, and Oviraptor were also discovered during these expeditions to the Gobi Desert.
