Beak morphology in oviraptorids, based on extant birds and turtles

Abstract

Oviraptorids are one of several groups of dinosaurs which have evolved beaks. Of extant beaked animals, birds and turtles are the best known. In this study, an anatomical comparison between oviraptorids, extant birds and turtles was made to try to reconstruct the beak in oviraptorids. The results show a close similarity in mandibular beak shape of parrots and oviraptorids, whereas turtles deviate. In the upper jaw, the oviraptorids show more resemblance to the latter group. The same bones, namely the premaxilla but also the maxilla and the nasal, were covered by ramphotheca in almost all the groups of birds, as well as in oviraptorids and turtles. Comparative evidence suggests that oviraptorids may have had a beak suited for an omnivorous diet, and the diet primarily consists of small prey, but also eggs, nuts and hard seeds. Keywords: oviraptorids, parrots, turtles, ramphotheca, skull anatomy, crest.