Citipati Facts
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 3m |
| Weight | 85 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Mongolia |

| Diet | Omnivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 3m |
| Weight | 85 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Mongolia |
Citipati was a remarkable theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous period, between 75 and 71 million years ago. This fascinating creature belonged to a group called oviraptorids, known for their bird-like characteristics and unusual feeding habits. Despite its fearsome-sounding name, which means 'Lord of the Funeral Pyre' after a Buddhist guardian deity, Citipati was actually a relatively small dinosaur, measuring about 3 metres in length and standing roughly 1.5 metres tall at the hip.
What made Citipati truly special was its distinctive appearance and behaviour. This theropod had a toothless beak, long arms with clawed hands, and was covered in feathers. Its skull featured a prominent crest, giving it an almost cassowary-like appearance. Citipati was an omnivore, likely feeding on a varied diet of plants, small animals, eggs, and possibly shellfish, using its powerful beak to crack open tough food items.
The discovery of Citipati has been crucial in understanding the link between dinosaurs and modern birds. Multiple specimens have been found in brooding positions over their nests, with their arms spread protectively over clutches of eggs. This bird-like nesting behaviour, combined with their feathered bodies, provides compelling evidence for the evolutionary relationship between theropod dinosaurs and birds.
Citipati inhabited the ancient desert environments of Asia, living alongside other famous dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Protoceratops. The exceptional preservation conditions in Mongolia have provided palaeontologists with some of the most complete oviraptorid fossils ever discovered, making Citipati one of the best-understood members of this intriguing dinosaur group.
Citipati had a distinctive toothless beak, a prominent bony crest on its skull, and long, feathered arms. Its overall appearance was remarkably bird-like, with a cassowary-like head crest and a body covered in primitive feathers.
Citipati exhibited remarkable parental care, with multiple fossils found in brooding positions over their nests with arms outstretched to protect their eggs. These dinosaurs likely used elaborate courtship displays, possibly showing off their colourful feathers and head crests to attract mates, much like modern birds do today.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Order | Avetheropoda |
| Family | Oviraptoridae |
| Genus | Citipati |
Citipati was first described by James Clark, Mark Norell, and Luis Chiappe in 2001. The original fossils were discovered at Ukhaa Tolgod, Djadochta Formation, Mongolia.