title: The first oviraptorosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) bonebed: evidence of gregarious behaviour in a maniraptoran theropod.
abstract: A monodominant bonebed of Avimimus from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia is the first oviraptorosaur bonebed described and the only recorded maniraptoran bonebed from the Late Cretaceous. Cranial elements recovered from the bonebed provide insights on the anatomy of the facial region, which was formerly unknown in Avimimus. Both adult and subadult material was recovered from the bonebed, but small juveniles are underrepresented. The taphonomic and sedimentological evidence suggests that the Avimimus bonebed represents a perimortem gregarious assemblage. The near absence of juveniles in the bonebed may be evidence of a transient age-segregated herd or 'flock', but the behaviour responsible for this assemblage is unclear. Regardless, the Avimimus bonebed is the first evidence of gregarious behaviour in oviraptorosaurs, and highlights a potential trend of increasing gregariousness in dinosaurs towards the end of the Mesozoic.
authors: University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, CW405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada.
authors: Gregory F
authors: GF
authors: Funston
authors: University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, CW405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada.
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Currie
authors: Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Box 7500, Drumheller, Alberta, T0J 0Y0 Canada.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Eberth
authors: Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr., University Circle, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Ryan
authors: Hokkaido University Museum, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
authors: Tsogtbaatar
authors: T
authors: Chinzorig
authors: Paleontological Center, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Box 260, Ulaan Baatar 210351, Mongolia.
authors: Demchig
authors: D
authors: Badamgarav
authors: Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, United Kingdom.
authors: Nicholas R
authors: NR
authors: Longrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D025061:Dinosaurs / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005580:Fossils / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008986:Mongolia; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012919:Social Behavior