History of discovery Nemegtomaia

maps showing nemegt locality (a, b) , nemegtomaia specimens have been found (c)

in 1996 japanese palaeontologist yoshitsugu kobayashi (as part of mongolian highland international dinosaur project team) found incomplete skeleton of oviraptorid dinosaur in nemegt formation of gobi desert in southwestern mongolia. specimen (mpc-d 100/2112 @ mongolian palaeontological center, formerly pc , gin 100/2112), consists of complete skull , partial skeleton, including cervical, dorsal, sacral, , caudal vertebrae, left scapula, lower ends of both humeri, right radius, both ilia, upper ends of both pubes, both ischia, , upper end of femur. specimen described new specimen of genus ingenia (referred i. sp.; of uncertain species) chinese palaeontologist junchang lü , colleagues in 2002, , used highlight similarities between oviraptorosaurs , birds.

skeletal diagrams showing preserved elements of 3 known specimens in grey, composite on right

in 2004 lü , colleagues determined skeleton belonged new, distinct taxon, , made holotype specimen of nemegtia barsboldi. genus name refers nemegt basin, , specific name honours mongolian palaeontologist rinchen barsbold, leader of team found specimen. in 2005 describers discovered (after being notified biologist) name nemegtia had been used genus of freshwater seed shrimp (ostracoda) same formation in 1978, , therefore preoccupied. proposed instead new genus name nemegtomaia ( maia means mother in greek, , full name means mother of nemegt ), making reference then-recent discovery oviraptorids brooded eggs rather stealing them, though no trace of nest or eggs had yet been found associated nemegtomaia itself. first known member of oviraptorid family found nest of eggs thought have belonged ceratopsian genus protoceratops, , therefore named oviraptor in 1924; name means egg-seizer . in 1990s more oviraptorid specimens discovered associated nests , eggs, wherein oviraptorid embryos found, thereby proving eggs belonged oviraptorids themselves. ingenia renamed ajancingenia in 2013, since former genus name preoccupied roundworm (nematoda).

nest diagram (a) , bones covered eggs (b–d) in mpc-d 107/15

in 2007 2 new specimens of nemegtomaia found dinosaurs of gobi expedition, , described italian palaeontologist federico fanti , colleagues in 2013. first specimen, mpc-d 107/15, found fanti (who nicknamed mary ) in baruungoyot formation, , consists of nest presumed parent on top. fourth genus of oviraptorid found on top of nest (after oviraptor, citipati, , cf. machairasaurus), nemegtomaia had therefore received genus name referring feature before found associated eggs. specimen excavated vertical cliff under difficult circumstances , including heavy rain , collapsing sandstone blocks. skeleton preserves parts of skull, both scapulae, left arm , hand, right humerus, pubes, ischia, femora, tibiae, fibulae, , lower portions of both feet. specimen found less 500 m (1640 ft) holotype, , of same size; assigned nemegtomaia due similar anatomical features , geographical proximity. collected in single block spatial relationship of bones , eggs preserved. second specimen, mpc-d 107/16, found american palaeontologist nicholas r. longrich in nemegt formation, , consists of hands, partial left ulna , radius, ribs, partial pelvis, , both femora. specimen 35% smaller others, , assigned nemegtomaia due hands having same characteristics of specimen mpc-d 107/15. possible hands may have belonged different individual, not found articulated rest of skeleton (other oviraptorids known quarries multiple skeletons), cannot confirmed.