Tsaagan (meaning "white") is an extinct genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous period. The type species is named T. mangas.
Description[]
Life restoration
The species name, Tsaagan mangas, should be read as a whole with the generic name qualifying the specific epithet, and is derived from the Mongolian words for "white monster" (цагаан мангас), although with an accidental misspelling of the word Tsagaan.
Tsaagan was a medium-sized dromaeosaurid. In 2010 Gregory S. Paul estimated its length at 2 metres, its weight at 15 kilograms. The skull in general appearance resembles that of Velociraptor but differs from it in many details. It is more robust and smooth on top; unique derived traits, with autapomorphies including a long paroccipital processes, jugal that touches the squamosal and basipterygoids at the rear of the skull. Tsaagan is a member of the group Dromaeosauridae. A cladistic analysis by Norell et al. originally indicated it was more precisely a member of the Velociraptorinae. In 2010 an analysis showed it was closely related to Linheraptor.
The holotype specimen, IGM 100/1015, was found near Xanadu in Ömnögovi Province in layers of the Djadokhta Formation dating to the Campanian, about 75 million years ago. It consists of a well-preserved skull and series of ten neck vertebrae as well as a damaged left shoulder girdle. It is the only specimen found of Tsaagan and belonged to an adult individual.
History[]
Skeletal showing the known remains from the holotype
The holotype, MPC-D 100/1015 (prev. IGM 100/1015) was discovered in 1996 and classified as a specimen of Velociraptor. However, a CAT scan in May 1998 suggested need for a new genus, which was published in 2006. The name is intended to be read as one, translating to "white monster" in Mongolian (although it is a typo of the word "Tsagaan"). The holotype was found near Xanadu, Ömnögovi Province in the Campanian Djadochta Formation. It is a well-preserved skull and a vertebral series of 10 cervicals with a damaged left shoulder. It is the only specimen, an adult.
Classification[]
Norell et al. suggest that Tsaagan was a velociraptorine. A 2010 analysis suggests affinities closer to Linheraptor. Senter (2011) and Turner et al. (2012) suggest, however, that Linheraptor is synonymous with Tsaagan. Xu et al. (2015) reject this, finding differences between the two. Currie and Evans (2019) find:
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Paleoecology[]
Tsaagan is one of the only dromaeosaur remains (besides isolate teeth) from the Ukhaa Tolgod region, though it did share the Djdochta Formation with Velociraptor. Other animals from here include Protoceratops, Shuvuuia, Zalambdalestes, Kryptobaatar, troodontids and dromaeosaurids.
Appearance in other media[]
Jurassic Park[]
- Tsaagan is only mentioned on a plaque display at Jurassic World: The Exhibition.
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Read more Tsaagan on Jurassic Park Wiki |
References[]
- https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4966348.html
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232678611_A_New_Dromaeosaurid_Theropod_from_Ukhaa_Tolgod_Omnogov_Mongolia
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/20037757
- http://studioschouten.com.au/artwork/tsaagan-mangas/
- https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/169121
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-Holotype-of-Tsaagan-mangas-IGM-100-1015-in-left-lateral-view-B-holotype-of-Tsaagan_fig8_232678611
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Holotype-of-Tsaagan-mangas-IGM-100-1015-during-initial-preparation_fig11_232678611
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Holotype-of-Tsaagan-mangas-IGM-100-1015-during-initial-preparation_fig28_232678611