Saurornitholestes
SORE-orn-ith-oh-LESS-teez /ˌsɔːrˌɔːrnɪθoʊˈlɛstiːz/
Accepted genus
lizard-bird robber
- sauros · Greek · lizard
- ornithos · Greek · bird
- lestes · Greek · robber
The name combines Greek words for "lizard", "bird" and "robber". It was chosen for a small, bird-like predatory dinosaur, and it echoes the earlier name Ornitholestes ("bird robber"), with "lizard" added to tell the two apart. The type species is S. langstoni, named for Wann Langston Jr.
- Named by
- Sues
- Year named
- 1978
- Period
- Late Cretaceous
- Stage
- Campanian
- Found in
- Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada (type); possibly other Campanian formations in western North America
A small dromaeosaurid theropod. Some referred material from other formations, such as the Kaiparowits Formation in Utah, is debated.