Rahonavis

Say it like this: “rah-HOON-a-vis”

Rahonavis ostromi

Rahonavis ate meat and walked on two legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Madagascar.

Quiz me on Rahonavis

When: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago
Named in: 1998 · Forster, C. A.; Sampson, S. D.; Chiappe, L. M.; Krause, D. W.
Hip height: 0.2 m · 1 ft
Length: 0.7 m · 2 ft
Weight: 1–2 kg · 2–4 lb
Found in: Madagascar · Maevarano
Food and walking: Carnivore · Two legs
Kind: sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
Family branch: Paraves

The story in short

Rahonavis was formally named in 1998 by C. A. Forster and colleagues. The name honors a person tied to the fossil or its study.

It lived in the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago. Finds come from Madagascar, including the Maevarano Formation. It was a carnivore and walked on two legs.

Published estimates put Rahonavis at a length near 0.7 m, hips about 0.2 m high, and a body mass around 1–2 kg.

On the family tree it sits in Paraves, among the theropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Euronychodon

Euronychodon portucalensis

Late Cretaceous (Campanian · Maastrichtian) · roughly 83.6 to 66 million years ago

Imperobator

Imperobator antarcticus

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago

Overoraptor

Overoraptor chimentoi

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian · Turonian) · roughly 100.5 to 89.8 million years ago