Citipati

funeral pyre lord

• Citipati · Sanskrit · funeral pyre lord (a pair of dancing skeletal monks in Tibetan Buddhist iconography)

The name comes from Sanskrit "Citipati", the name of two skeletal monks in Tibetan Buddhist folklore who are lords of the cremation ground (funeral pyre). It was chosen because the type specimen was found curled up and fossilised in a posture reminiscent of the Citipati figures. The famous specimen was found brooding a nest of eggs.

Named by

Clark, Norell and Barsbold

Year named

2001

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Djadochta Formation, Ukhaa Tolgod, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

An oviraptorid theropod. The type species is Citipati osmolskae. Specimens found in brooding posture over nests provide evidence of bird-like nesting behaviour.