Natovenator

swimming hunter

• nato · Latin · I swim
• venator · Latin · hunter

The name combines the Latin "nato" (I swim) and "venator" (hunter), giving "swimming hunter". It refers to the body shape of this small feathered theropod. Its streamlined, flattened ribcage resembles that of swimming and diving animals, which suggests a semi-aquatic lifestyle that included hunting prey in water. The type species is N. polydontus ("many-toothed").

Named by

Lee et al.

Year named

2022

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Baruungoyot Formation, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

A small halszkaraptorine dromaeosaurid (a feathered theropod related to Halszkaraptor and Hulsanpes). The only known specimen is a juvenile. The preserved rib cage is unusually slender and streamlined, which is the basis for the "swimming" interpretation. Details such as the exact formation and stage are given from memory and may need checking.