#oviraptorids

2026DrawDinoDaily, Day 80, Marchosauria, 29.032026

Corythoraptor

Corythoraptor jacobsi

A little traditional drawing of Oviraptor

Throughout the history of paleontology, the public's perception of dinosaurs has changed dramatically. The popular portrayal of the ancient creatures has run the gambit from prehistoric monsters to being not too dissimilar to modern animals aside from size and appearance.

Case in point: Oviraptor. Oviraptor and its kind have long been seen as primarily egg thieves in pop culture. It's right there in the name: Oviraptor ("egg thief"). Named by Henry Fairfield Osborn (the same guy who named Tyrannosaurus Rex), the original specimen of Oviraptor (AMNH 6517) was discovered by Roy Chapman Andrews in Mongolia having collapsed on a nest of eggs. Given that specimens of Protoceratops and their nests were common within the area, it seemed reasonable to assume that the dinosaur was caught in the act of nest plundering.

Remember, this was during a time where dinosaurs were seen as primitive and savage beasts. So, it seemed reasonable at the time to assume that Osborn would assume the same of this particular specimen. Though it should be noted that even back then that Osborn admitted that the labelling of Oviraptor maybe a bit misleading. Which itself turned out to be rather prophetic.

In 1993, an egg similar to the ones that were "raided" by the Oviraptor was discovered by Mark Norell of the American Museum of Natural History to actually contain the embryo of another oviraptorid called Citipati. The following year, another Citipati specimen was discovered on top of a nest, though this time the implications were clear. The oviraptors were NOT killed in the middle of stealing eggs. They died on top of their own nests, likely overcome by sandstorms or some other natural disaster.

Now is it possible that Citipati, Oviraptor, and others of their kind raided nests? Of course. Their hard beaks and jaws would've made it easy for them to crack open the hardest of objects. And unattended eggs would've made for a rich and easy source of food. But the same can be said for any predator, including modern day animals. So this one trait is far from the only defining trait that defines them. They could be nest plunderers as well as being devoted parents.

Oviraptors are indicative of how our understanding about dinosaurs continues to change. About how old knowledge is being put to the test and rewritten for a better view of these animals.

Day 7- Notable fossil specimen

I decided to go with the Citipati specimen "Big mama" (forgot the specimen number).