What is Troodontidae?
Q: What is Troodontidae?
A: Troodontidae is a family of bird-like theropod dinosaurs.
Q: Where were Troodontidae mainly found?
A: Troodontidae were mainly found in Mongolia, China, and North America.
Q: When was the first specimen of Troodontidae found?
A: The first specimen of Troodontidae, just a single tooth, was found in central Montana in 1855 by Ferdinand Hayden.
Q: What did recent discoveries reveal about Troodontidae?
A: Recent discoveries of Troodontidae have revealed more complete specimens, including feathers, eggs, embryos, and complete juveniles.
Q: What was found in 1994 related to Troodontidae?
A: In 1994, a fossil of an adult Troodon was found sitting on a nest with eight eggs.
Q: What is the clade called that Troodontids are part of?
A: Troodontids are part of a clade called Paraves.
Q: What are some anatomical features unique to Troodontidae?
A: Troodontidae has relatively large brains, a skull with many air pockets, a retractable second toe claw, and many teeth. The number of teeth ranges from 96 in Saurornithoides mongoliensis to 120 in the Troodon.
