Fukuivenator

Fukui hunter

• Fukui · Japanese · Fukui Prefecture, Japan (place of discovery)
• venator · Latin · hunter

The name combines Fukui, the Japanese prefecture where the fossils were found, with the Latin word for "hunter". It means "Fukui hunter". The species name, paradoxus, refers to the animal's odd mix of features seen in different maniraptoran groups.

Named by

Azuma et al.

Year named

2016

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Barremian

Found in

Kitadani Formation, Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan

A small, primitive maniraptoran theropod. Its exact position is debated. It has been placed near the base of the Maniraptora, close to therizinosaurs. Its teeth and other features suggest it may not have been a strict hunter, despite the name.