Haya

horse (from the horse-headed deity Hayagriva)

• haya · Sanskrit · horse

Haya is the first half of the name of Hayagriva, a horse-headed deity in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The genus name uses the Sanskrit word "haya" (horse), and the species name griva (from Sanskrit for "neck") completes the deity's name in Haya griva. The name was chosen as a reference to Mongolia's Buddhist tradition, where Hayagriva is a protector figure.

Named by

Makovicky et al.

Year named

2011

Period

Late Cretaceous

Found in

Javkhlant Formation, Mongolia

A small, early-branching neornithischian (bird-hipped) dinosaur. The only known species is Haya griva. It is known from several specimens and is notable for gastroliths (stomach stones) found with the skeleton.