El dinosaurio parecido a un ave que usaba su cráneo para pelear por las hembras.
🦖 Un fósil descubierto en México, el «Xenovenator espinosai», sugiere que los cabezazos pudieron ser clave en la lucha por conseguir pareja hace 73 millones de años. www.rexmolon.es/rexmolon-pro...
🦖 Un fósil descubierto en México, el «Xenovenator espinosai», sugiere que los cabezazos pudieron ser clave en la lucha por conseguir pareja hace 73 millones de años. www.rexmolon.es/rexmolon-pro...
January 30, 2026 at 1:05 PM
El dinosaurio parecido a un ave que usaba su cráneo para pelear por las hembras.
🦖 Un fósil descubierto en México, el «Xenovenator espinosai», sugiere que los cabezazos pudieron ser clave en la lucha por conseguir pareja hace 73 millones de años. www.rexmolon.es/rexmolon-pro...
🦖 Un fósil descubierto en México, el «Xenovenator espinosai», sugiere que los cabezazos pudieron ser clave en la lucha por conseguir pareja hace 73 millones de años. www.rexmolon.es/rexmolon-pro...
Who are you calling a featherweight?!?
Meet Xenovenator, a new species of troodontid from Mexico that sported a bony knob that may have been used to head-butt rival raptors.
Latest for @nytimes.com featuring some awesome art from @dragonsofwales.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/s...
Meet Xenovenator, a new species of troodontid from Mexico that sported a bony knob that may have been used to head-butt rival raptors.
Latest for @nytimes.com featuring some awesome art from @dragonsofwales.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/s...
You Wouldn’t Want to Butt Heads With This Small Dinosaur
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Who are you calling a featherweight?!?
Meet Xenovenator, a new species of troodontid from Mexico that sported a bony knob that may have been used to head-butt rival raptors.
Latest for @nytimes.com featuring some awesome art from @dragonsofwales.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/s...
Meet Xenovenator, a new species of troodontid from Mexico that sported a bony knob that may have been used to head-butt rival raptors.
Latest for @nytimes.com featuring some awesome art from @dragonsofwales.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/s...
"The newly-described dinosaur species lived around 73 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous epoch.
Named Xenovenator espinosai, it belonged to the Troodontidae, a group of agile theropod dinosaurs closely related to birds."
www.sci.news/paleontology...
Named Xenovenator espinosai, it belonged to the Troodontidae, a group of agile theropod dinosaurs closely related to birds."
www.sci.news/paleontology...
Thick-Skulled Troodontid Dinosaur Unearthed in Mexico | Sci.News
A team of paleontologists from Mexico and the United States has identified a new species of bird-like dinosaur with an unusually thick and domed skull, suggesting it may have used head-butting during ...
www.sci.news
January 19, 2026 at 9:27 AM
"The newly-described dinosaur species lived around 73 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous epoch.
Named Xenovenator espinosai, it belonged to the Troodontidae, a group of agile theropod dinosaurs closely related to birds."
www.sci.news/paleontology...
Named Xenovenator espinosai, it belonged to the Troodontidae, a group of agile theropod dinosaurs closely related to birds."
www.sci.news/paleontology...
(2/3) I began work on this almost two years ago, so it’s great to finally be able to share the news. My sincere thanks to Héctor Rivera-Sylvia and the rest of his team for commissioning me - it was an honour to work on this. A link to the full paper can be found here: www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18...
January 14, 2026 at 5:17 PM
(2/3) I began work on this almost two years ago, so it’s great to finally be able to share the news. My sincere thanks to Héctor Rivera-Sylvia and the rest of his team for commissioning me - it was an honour to work on this. A link to the full paper can be found here: www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18...
Introducing Xenovenator espinosai, a new troodontid dinosaur with some fascinating cranial anatomy. I had the honour of being approached to create the illustration for this week’s official announcement. (1/3) #SciArt
January 14, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Introducing Xenovenator espinosai, a new troodontid dinosaur with some fascinating cranial anatomy. I had the honour of being approached to create the illustration for this week’s official announcement. (1/3) #SciArt
Dinosauri troodontidi dalla testa spessa a forma di cupola rinvenuti in Messico
#paleontologia @scienze
Un team di paleontologi provenienti dal Messico e dagli Stati Uniti ha identificato una nuova specie di dinosauro simile a un uccello con un cranio […]
[Original post on mastodon.uno]
#paleontologia @scienze
Un team di paleontologi provenienti dal Messico e dagli Stati Uniti ha identificato una nuova specie di dinosauro simile a un uccello con un cranio […]
[Original post on mastodon.uno]
January 13, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Dinosauri troodontidi dalla testa spessa a forma di cupola rinvenuti in Messico
#paleontologia @scienze
Un team di paleontologi provenienti dal Messico e dagli Stati Uniti ha identificato una nuova specie di dinosauro simile a un uccello con un cranio […]
[Original post on mastodon.uno]
#paleontologia @scienze
Un team di paleontologi provenienti dal Messico e dagli Stati Uniti ha identificato una nuova specie di dinosauro simile a un uccello con un cranio […]
[Original post on mastodon.uno]
January 11, 2026 at 10:40 AM
So how does Xenovenator compare with Yaverlandia @tetzoo.bsky.social ? No mention of it? @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social
New dinosaur Xenovenator espinosai, apparently a dome-headed troodontid: www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18... 🪶🧪 (📷Rivera-Sylva et al.)
January 9, 2026 at 7:53 PM
So how does Xenovenator compare with Yaverlandia @tetzoo.bsky.social ? No mention of it? @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social
New dinosaur Xenovenator espinosai, apparently a dome-headed troodontid: www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18... 🪶🧪 (📷Rivera-Sylva et al.)
January 9, 2026 at 6:29 PM
New dinosaur Xenovenator espinosai, apparently a dome-headed troodontid: www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18... 🪶🧪 (📷Rivera-Sylva et al.)
Newly described thick-skulled Troodontid, Xenovenator espinosai, from admittedly scrappy remains. www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18... #paleontology #sciencenews #dinosaurs
www.mdpi.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Newly described thick-skulled Troodontid, Xenovenator espinosai, from admittedly scrappy remains. www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18... #paleontology #sciencenews #dinosaurs
El fósil de un nuevo dinosaurio carnívoro descubierto en Coahuila revela claves sobre la evolución de troodóntidos en Norteamérica. Un equipo internacional de paleontólogos describió oficialmente a Xenovenator espinosai, un nuevo dinosaurio carnívoro hallado en Coahuila,
Descubren en Coahuila nuevo dinosaurio carnívoro Xenovenator espinosai
El fósil de un nuevo dinosaurio carnívoro descubierto en Coahuila revela claves sobre la evolución de troodóntidos en Norteamérica. Un equipo internacional de paleontólogos describió oficialmente a Xenovenator espinosai, un nuevo dinosaurio carnívoro hallado en Coahuila,
eltiempomx.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:00 AM
El fósil de un nuevo dinosaurio carnívoro descubierto en Coahuila revela claves sobre la evolución de troodóntidos en Norteamérica. Un equipo internacional de paleontólogos describió oficialmente a Xenovenator espinosai, un nuevo dinosaurio carnívoro hallado en Coahuila,
Znaleźli dziwne zwierzę. Piekielnie inteligentny i twarda czaszka
https://www.europesays.com/pl/206708/
Troodony, w tym odkryty w Meksyku Xenovenator, były jednymi z najwyżej ocenianych pod względem inteligencji dinozaurów. Xenovenator espinosai…
https://www.europesays.com/pl/206708/
Troodony, w tym odkryty w Meksyku Xenovenator, były jednymi z najwyżej ocenianych pod względem inteligencji dinozaurów. Xenovenator espinosai…
Znaleźli dziwne zwierzę. Piekielnie inteligentny i twarda czaszka - Polska
Troodony, w tym odkryty w Meksyku Xenovenator, były jednymi z najwyżej ocenianych pod względem inteligencji dinozaurów.
www.europesays.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Znaleźli dziwne zwierzę. Piekielnie inteligentny i twarda czaszka
https://www.europesays.com/pl/206708/
Troodony, w tym odkryty w Meksyku Xenovenator, były jednymi z najwyżej ocenianych pod względem inteligencji dinozaurów. Xenovenator espinosai…
https://www.europesays.com/pl/206708/
Troodony, w tym odkryty w Meksyku Xenovenator, były jednymi z najwyżej ocenianych pod względem inteligencji dinozaurów. Xenovenator espinosai…
"Figure 12. Silhouettes of Xenovenator espinosai and other Cerro del Pueblo Formation dinosaurs, showing the diversity of the fauna."
January 19, 2026 at 9:33 AM
"Figure 12. Silhouettes of Xenovenator espinosai and other Cerro del Pueblo Formation dinosaurs, showing the diversity of the fauna."
#Xenovenator is one of the first named dinosaurs of the year! Assigned by Rivera-Sylva et al (2026) to the troodontid lineage, it has oddly thickened frontals - creating a bulbous/domed forehead. Could this be a combat or display adaptation? It's remains from Coahuila, #Mexico date back ~73m years.
January 11, 2026 at 3:02 PM
#Xenovenator is one of the first named dinosaurs of the year! Assigned by Rivera-Sylva et al (2026) to the troodontid lineage, it has oddly thickened frontals - creating a bulbous/domed forehead. Could this be a combat or display adaptation? It's remains from Coahuila, #Mexico date back ~73m years.
January 30, 2026 at 1:49 AM
メキシコ、コアウイラ州、白亜紀後期のトロオドン科新種
Xenovenator espinosai
属名：（ギ）奇妙な＋（ラ）狩人
種小名：メキシコの古生物学の先駆者L. Espinosaに献名特徴：パキケファロサウルス類と収斂する、最大12mmに達するドーム状の極めて厚い頭蓋
CTスキャンを用いた解析の結果、骨の内部に垂直方向の柱状構造やスポンジ状の組織を確認
衝撃を吸収・分散するための適応と考えられ、パキケファロサウルス科との見事な収斂進化を示す
参照標本はホロタイプほど頭蓋が分厚くない→成長段階の違いか性的2形の可能性
論文OA www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18...
Xenovenator espinosai
属名：（ギ）奇妙な＋（ラ）狩人
種小名：メキシコの古生物学の先駆者L. Espinosaに献名特徴：パキケファロサウルス類と収斂する、最大12mmに達するドーム状の極めて厚い頭蓋
CTスキャンを用いた解析の結果、骨の内部に垂直方向の柱状構造やスポンジ状の組織を確認
衝撃を吸収・分散するための適応と考えられ、パキケファロサウルス科との見事な収斂進化を示す
参照標本はホロタイプほど頭蓋が分厚くない→成長段階の違いか性的2形の可能性
論文OA www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18...
January 9, 2026 at 9:46 PM
メキシコ、コアウイラ州、白亜紀後期のトロオドン科新種
Xenovenator espinosai
属名：（ギ）奇妙な＋（ラ）狩人
種小名：メキシコの古生物学の先駆者L. Espinosaに献名特徴：パキケファロサウルス類と収斂する、最大12mmに達するドーム状の極めて厚い頭蓋
CTスキャンを用いた解析の結果、骨の内部に垂直方向の柱状構造やスポンジ状の組織を確認
衝撃を吸収・分散するための適応と考えられ、パキケファロサウルス科との見事な収斂進化を示す
参照標本はホロタイプほど頭蓋が分厚くない→成長段階の違いか性的2形の可能性
論文OA www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18...
Xenovenator espinosai
属名：（ギ）奇妙な＋（ラ）狩人
種小名：メキシコの古生物学の先駆者L. Espinosaに献名特徴：パキケファロサウルス類と収斂する、最大12mmに達するドーム状の極めて厚い頭蓋
CTスキャンを用いた解析の結果、骨の内部に垂直方向の柱状構造やスポンジ状の組織を確認
衝撃を吸収・分散するための適応と考えられ、パキケファロサウルス科との見事な収斂進化を示す
参照標本はホロタイプほど頭蓋が分厚くない→成長段階の違いか性的2形の可能性
論文OA www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18...
Hallado en Coahuila el Xenovenator espinosai, un nuevo eslabón en la evolución de las aves.
Xenovenator Espinosai: el nuevo dinosaurio descubierto en Coahuila
El Museo del Desierto (MUDE) presentó el descubrimiento de una nueva especie de dinosaurio carnívoro identificada ...
www.meganoticias.mx
January 14, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Hallado en Coahuila el Xenovenator espinosai, un nuevo eslabón en la evolución de las aves.
"The paratype specimens of Xenovenator espinosai show less pronounced skull thickening and doming.
This variation may reflect differences in age or sex, with the most extreme skull reinforcement developing later in life or possibly only in one sex."
This variation may reflect differences in age or sex, with the most extreme skull reinforcement developing later in life or possibly only in one sex."
January 19, 2026 at 9:29 AM
"The paratype specimens of Xenovenator espinosai show less pronounced skull thickening and doming.
This variation may reflect differences in age or sex, with the most extreme skull reinforcement developing later in life or possibly only in one sex."
This variation may reflect differences in age or sex, with the most extreme skull reinforcement developing later in life or possibly only in one sex."
Descubren en México un dinosaurio sin precedentes: Xenovenator espinosai, el cazador de Coahuila que usaba la cabeza como arma www.xataka.com.mx/p/224365
Descubren en México un dinosaurio sin precedentes: Xenovenator espinosai, el cazador de Coahuila que usaba la cabeza como arma
México acaba de sumar un nuevo nombre a su ya notable lista de dinosaurios. Se trata de Xenovenator espinosai, una nueva especie de dinosaurio carnívoro...
www.xataka.com.mx
January 18, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Descubren en México un dinosaurio sin precedentes: Xenovenator espinosai, el cazador de Coahuila que usaba la cabeza como arma www.xataka.com.mx/p/224365
"Figure 11. Phylogenetic analysis of Troodontidae showing the relationships of Xenovenator espinosai. Strict consensus of 3025 trees... Analysis based on 114 characters and 27 ingroup taxa, with stratigraphy used to constrain wildcard taxa..."
January 19, 2026 at 9:32 AM
"Figure 11. Phylogenetic analysis of Troodontidae showing the relationships of Xenovenator espinosai. Strict consensus of 3025 trees... Analysis based on 114 characters and 27 ingroup taxa, with stratigraphy used to constrain wildcard taxa..."
Nouveau dinosaure découvert, une nouvelle espèce de troodontidé : Xenovenator Espinosai, qui avait vécu au crétacé supérieur.
#paleoart #troodontid #xenovenator #xenovenatorespinosai #dinosaur #art #artist #sciart
#paleoart #troodontid #xenovenator #xenovenatorespinosai #dinosaur #art #artist #sciart
January 23, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Nouveau dinosaure découvert, une nouvelle espèce de troodontidé : Xenovenator Espinosai, qui avait vécu au crétacé supérieur.
#paleoart #troodontid #xenovenator #xenovenatorespinosai #dinosaur #art #artist #sciart
#paleoart #troodontid #xenovenator #xenovenatorespinosai #dinosaur #art #artist #sciart
Here's an interesting thought: The new Xenovenator seems nested within Late K, North American troodontids and is along way in time and space from Yaverlandia. So maybe troodontids evolved dome heads TWICE.
January 9, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Here's an interesting thought: The new Xenovenator seems nested within Late K, North American troodontids and is along way in time and space from Yaverlandia. So maybe troodontids evolved dome heads TWICE.
The recent description of Xenovenator espinosai by Rivera-Sylva et al. suggests Albertavenator is a derived close relative, forming the clade Troodontini with the Troodon-type troodontids. So it is probably likely that Albertavenator did have these classic cf. Troodon teeth.
www.mdpi.com/3674690
www.mdpi.com/3674690
www.mdpi.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:50 AM
The recent description of Xenovenator espinosai by Rivera-Sylva et al. suggests Albertavenator is a derived close relative, forming the clade Troodontini with the Troodon-type troodontids. So it is probably likely that Albertavenator did have these classic cf. Troodon teeth.
www.mdpi.com/3674690
www.mdpi.com/3674690
Xenovenator espinosai, a newly identified troodontid from Late Cretaceous Mexico, possessed a thick, domed skull likely adapted for headbutting rivals during mate competition. doi.org/hbmt24
The first headbutting paravian: Bird-like dinosaur likely used thick skull to win over mates
Whether it's digging up weathered bones from a paleontological site or reexamining forgotten trays in museum and university collections, the study of dinosaurs still throws up something new.
phys.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Xenovenator espinosai, a newly identified troodontid from Late Cretaceous Mexico, possessed a thick, domed skull likely adapted for headbutting rivals during mate competition. doi.org/hbmt24