# Oviraptor (*Oviraptor philoceratops*)

Oviraptor was a prehistoric dinosaur known for its distinctive features. Scientists study its bones to learn about how dinosaurs lived.

- **Category:** [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/ancient)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mesozoic forests and floodplains

![Oviraptor](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oviraptor_holotype.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Internet Archive Book Images, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oviraptor_holotype.jpg)

## Appearance

The Oviraptor has a parrot-like toothless beak and a distinctive bony crest on its skull, which varied among species. It likely sported a vibrant coat of feathers, giving it a bird-like appearance with long legs and a short tail.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Fossil evidence shows it often had a cool bony crest, like a helmet.
- Its name means 'egg thief', but it actually protected its own eggs!
- Oviraptor lived in the scorching deserts of ancient Mongolia.
- This dinosaur walked on two legs, just like many modern birds do!

## Special abilities

- **Desert Dash:** Oviraptor had long, strong legs that helped it run quickly across open desert landscapes.
- **Egg Guardian:** Oviraptor nested on its eggs like a bird, protecting them until they hatched, not stealing them.
- **Crushing Beak:** Oviraptor had a powerful, toothless beak for crushing hard items or precisely picking small food.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 1.6-2 m
- **Weight:** 20-40 kg
- **Era:** Ancient
- **Extinct Millions Years Ago:** 70

## Diet & Feeding

An omnivore, Oviraptor munched on small animals, plants, and even the occasional egg!

- **Primary Foods:** lizards, insects, plants, small mammals, eggs
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** [Protoceratops](https://www.snappit.app/explore/protoceratops) (*Protoceratops andrewsi*) — Oviraptor might have eaten the eggs of this horned dinosaur.
- **Eaten by:** [Velociraptor](https://www.snappit.app/explore/velociraptor) (*Velociraptor mongoliensis*) — Larger predators like Velociraptor might have hunted Oviraptor.
- **Hunts:** Gobi Lizard (*Gobiderma pulchrum*) — Oviraptor preyed on small reptiles like this ancient lizard.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Artifact](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/artifact): An artifact is an object made or modified by human culture, typically of historical or archaeological interest.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.

## Collections

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/ancient)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

While extremely dangerous in their time, this creature is now extinct.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Oviraptor?

Compare skull shape, horns, plates, limbs, posture and tail. Museum models and toys can mix features or follow outdated reconstructions. Dinosaur Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Oviraptor?

1.6-2 m

### How much does Oviraptor weigh?

20-40 kg

### What does Oviraptor eat?

An omnivore, Oviraptor munched on small animals, plants, and even the occasional egg!

### Where is Oviraptor usually found?

Mesozoic forests and floodplains

### How does Oviraptor hunt?

Foraging

### What geologic era did Oviraptor live in?

Ancient

### When did Oviraptor go extinct?

70

## More Ancient

- [Tyrannosaurus rex](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tyrannosaurus-rex) (*Tyrannosaurus rex*)
- [Triceratops](https://www.snappit.app/explore/triceratops) (*Triceratops horridus*)
- [Stegosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stegosaurus) (*Stegosaurus stenops*)
- [Brachiosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brachiosaurus) (*Brachiosaurus altithorax*)

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Source: [Oviraptor: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oviraptor)