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{{Short description|Extinct genus of dinosaurs}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = [[Late Cretaceous]], {{Fossil range|76.5|75}}
| image = Chirostenotes skeletal.jpg
| image_caption = Skeletal diagram showing known elements of ''C. pergracilis''
| taxon = Chirostenotes
| authority = [[Charles W. Gilmore|Gilmore]], 1924
| type_species = '''''Chirostenotes pergracilis'''''
| type_species_authority = Gilmore, 1924
| synonyms =
* ''Macrophalangia canadensis'' <small>Sternberg, 1932</small
* ''[[Caenagnathus]] sternbergi''? <small>Cracraft, 1971</small>
}}
'''''Chirostenotes''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|aɪ|r|oʊ
==History of discovery==
''Chirostenotes'' has a confusing history of discovery and naming. The first fossils of ''Chirostenotes'', a pair of hands, were in 1914 found by [[George Fryer Sternberg]] near [[Little Sandhill Creek]] in the [[Campanian]] [[Dinosaur Park Formation]] of Canada, which has yielded the most dinosaurs of any Canadian formation. The specimens were studied by [[Lawrence Morris Lambe]] who, however, died before being able to formally name them. In 1924, [[Charles Whitney Gilmore]] adopted the name he found in Lambe's notes and described and named the [[type species]] ''Chirostenotes pergracilis''. The generic name is derived from Greek ''cheir'', "hand", and ''stenotes'', "narrowness". The [[specific name (zoology)|specific name]] means "throughout", ''per~'', "gracile", ''gracilis'', in [[Latin]]. The [[holotype]] is '''
▲''Chirostenotes'' has a confusing history of discovery and naming. The first fossils of ''Chirostenotes'', a pair of hands, were in 1914 found by [[George Fryer Sternberg]] near [[Little Sandhill Creek]] in the [[Campanian]] [[Dinosaur Park Formation]] of Canada, which has yielded the most dinosaurs of any Canadian formation. The specimens were studied by [[Lawrence Morris Lambe]] who, however, died before being able to formally name them. In 1924, [[Charles Whitney Gilmore]] adopted the name he found in Lambe's notes and described and named the [[type species]] ''Chirostenotes pergracilis''. The generic name is derived from Greek ''cheir'', "hand", and ''stenotes'', "narrowness". The [[specific name (zoology)|specific name]] means "throughout", ''per~'', "gracile", ''gracilis'', in [[Latin]]. The [[holotype]] is '''NMC 2367''', the pair of hands.<ref name=CWG24>{{cite journal | last1 = Gilmore | first1 = C.W. | year = 1924 | title = A new coelurid dinosaur from the Belly River Cretaceous of Alberta | journal = Canada Department of Mines Geological Survey Bulletin (Geological Series) | volume = 38 | issue = 43| pages = 1–12 }}</ref> Another fossil connected to ''Chirostenotes'' is specimen CMN 8776, a set of jaws with strange teeth, which were originally referred by Gilmore to ''Chirostenotes pergracilis''. Now that it is known that ''Chirostenotes'' was a toothless oviraptorosaur, the jaws have been renamed ''[[Richardoestesia]]'' and are from an otherwise unknown dinosaur, likely a [[dromaeosaurid]].<ref name=CRR90>Currie, P.J., Rigby, Jr., J.K., and Sloan, R.E. (1990). Theropod teeth from the Judith River Formation of southern Alberta, Canada. In: Carpenter, K., and Currie, P.J. (eds.). ''Dinosaur Systematics: Perspectives and Approaches''. Cambridge University Press:Cambridge, 107-125. {{ISBN|0-521-36672-0}}.</ref>
{{Multiple image
''Chirostenotes'' was but the first name assigned. Feet were then found, specimen CMN 8538, and in 1932 [[Charles Mortram Sternberg]] gave them the name ''Macrophalangia canadensis'', meaning 'large toes from Canada'.<ref name=CMS32>{{cite journal | last1 = Sternberg | first1 = C.M. | year = 1932 | title = Two new theropod dinosaurs from the Belly River Formation of Alberta | journal = Canadian Field-Naturalist | volume = 46 | issue = 5| pages = 99–105 }}</ref> Sternberg correctly recognized them as part of a meat-eating dinosaur but thought they belonged to an [[ornithomimid]]. In 1936, its lower jaws, specimen CMN 8776, were found by [[Raymond Sternberg]] near [[Steveville]] and in 1940 he gave them the name ''[[Caenagnathus]] collinsi''. The generic name means 'recent jaw' from Greek ''kainos'', "new", and ''gnathos'', "jaw"; the specific name honours [[William Henry Collins]]. The toothless jaws were first thought to be those of a [[bird]].<ref name=RMS36>{{cite journal | last1 = Sternberg | first1 = R.M. | year = 1940 | title = A toothless bird from the Cretaceous of Alberta | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 14 | issue = 1| pages = 81–85 }}</ref>▼
| image1 = Chirostenotes pergracilis hand.jpg
| image2 = Chirostenotes pergraclis.jpg
| total_width = 400
| footer =
| align = center
| caption1 = Right hand (A & B), left hand (C & D). Reconstruction of a right hand based on a composite of both hands (E).
| header = Holotype (CMN 2367)
| caption2 = Illustration of the left hand from the 1924 description.
}}
Gilmore tentatively referred another specimen, CMN 343, to ''Chirostenotes pergracilis.'' CMN 343 is a set of jaws with strange teeth found several miles away from the holotype. Much later in the 1980s, it was known that ''Chirostenotes'' was a toothless oviraptorosaur, and the jaws were designated the holotype specimen of ''[[Richardoestesia|Richardoestesia gilmorei]]'' and are from an otherwise poorly known dinosaur, possibly a [[dromaeosaurid]].<ref name="CRR90">Currie, P.J., Rigby, Jr., J.K., and Sloan, R.E. (1990). Theropod teeth from the Judith River Formation of southern Alberta, Canada. In: Carpenter, K., and Currie, P.J. (eds.). ''Dinosaur Systematics: Perspectives and Approaches''. Cambridge University Press:Cambridge, 107-125. {{ISBN|0-521-36672-0}}.</ref>
Slowly the precise relationship between the finds became clear. In 1960 [[Alexander Wetmore]] concluded that ''Caenagnathus'' was not a bird but an ornithomimid.<ref>Wetmore, A. 1960. ''A classification for the birds of the world''. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 139 (11): 1–37</ref> In 1969 [[Edwin Colbert]] and [[Dale Russell]] suggested that ''Chirostenotes'' and ''Macrophalangia'' were one and the same animal.<ref>E.H. Colbert and D.A. Russell, 1969, "The small Cretaceous dinosaur ''Dromaeosaurus''", ''Amer. Mus. Novit.'', No. 2380, pp. 1-49</ref> In 1976 [[Halszka Osmólska]] described ''Caenagnathus'' as an oviraptorosaurian.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Osmólska | first1 = H. | year = 1976 | title = New light on the skull anatomy and systematic position of ''Oviraptor'' | journal = Nature | volume = 262 | issue = 5570| pages = 683–684 | doi=10.1038/262683a0}}</ref> In 1981 the announcement of ''[[Elmisaurus]]'', an Asian form of which both hand and feet had been preserved, showed the soundness of Colbert and Russell's conjecture.▼
[[File:
▲''Chirostenotes'' was but the first name assigned. Feet were then found, specimen CMN 8538 (also from the Dinosaur Park Formation),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Funston |first=Gregory |date=2020-07-27 |title=Caenagnathids of the Dinosaur Park Formation (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada: anatomy, osteohistology, taxonomy, and evolution |url=https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/29362 |journal=Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology |language=en |volume=8 |pages=105–153 |doi=10.18435/vamp29362 |issn=2292-1389}}</ref> and in 1932 [[Charles Mortram Sternberg]] gave them the name ''Macrophalangia canadensis'', meaning 'large toes from Canada'.<ref name="CMS32">{{cite journal | last1 = Sternberg | first1 = C.M. | year = 1932 | title = Two new theropod dinosaurs from the Belly River Formation of Alberta | journal = Canadian Field-Naturalist | volume = 46 | issue = 5| pages = 99–105 }}</ref> Sternberg correctly recognized them as part of a meat-eating dinosaur but thought they belonged to an [[ornithomimid]]. In 1936, its lower jaws, specimen CMN 8776, were found by [[Raymond Sternberg]] near [[Steveville]] and in 1940 he gave them the name ''[[Caenagnathus]] collinsi''. The generic name means 'recent jaw' from Greek ''kainos'', "new", and ''gnathos'', "jaw"; the specific name honours [[William Henry Collins]]. The toothless jaws were first thought to be those of a [[bird]].<ref name="RMS36">{{cite journal | last1 = Sternberg | first1 = R.M. | year = 1940 | title = A toothless bird from the Cretaceous of Alberta | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 14 | issue = 1| pages = 81–85 }}</ref>
In 1988, a specimen from storage since 1923 was discovered and studied by [[Philip J. Currie]] and Dale Russell. This fossil helped link the other discoveries into a single dinosaur. Since the first name applied to any of these remains was ''Chirostenotes'', this were the only name that was recognized as valid.<ref name=CR88>{{cite journal | last1 = Currie | first1 = P.J. | last2 = Russell | first2 = D.A. | year = 1988 | title = Osteology and relationships of ''Chirostenotes pergracilis'' (Saurischia, Theropoda) from the Judith River (Oldman) Formation of Alberta, Canada | doi = 10.1139/e88-097 | journal = Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences | volume = 25 | issue = 7| pages = 972–986 }}</ref>▼
▲Slowly the precise relationship between the finds became clear. In 1960 [[Alexander Wetmore]] concluded that ''Caenagnathus'' was not a bird but an ornithomimid.<ref>Wetmore, A. 1960. ''A classification for the birds of the world''. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 139 (11): 1–37</ref> In 1969 [[Edwin Colbert]] and [[Dale Russell]] suggested that ''Chirostenotes'' and ''Macrophalangia'' were one and the same animal.<ref>E.H. Colbert and D.A. Russell, 1969, "The small Cretaceous dinosaur ''Dromaeosaurus''", ''Amer. Mus. Novit.'', No. 2380, pp. 1-49</ref> In 1976 [[Halszka Osmólska]] described ''Caenagnathus'' as an oviraptorosaurian.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Osmólska | first1 = H. | year = 1976 | title = New light on the skull anatomy and systematic position of ''Oviraptor'' | journal = Nature | volume = 262 | issue = 5570| pages = 683–684 | doi=10.1038/262683a0| bibcode = 1976Natur.262..683O | s2cid = 4180155 }}</ref> In 1981 the announcement of ''[[Elmisaurus]]'', an Asian form of which both hand and feet had been preserved, showed the soundness of Colbert and Russell's conjecture.
Currie and Russell also addressed the complicating issue of a possible second form being present in the material. In 1933 [[William Arthur Parks]] had named ''Ornithomimus elegans'', based on specimen ROM 781, another foot from Alberta.<ref name=WAP33>{{cite journal | last1 = Parks | first1 = W.A. | year = 1933 | title = New species of dinosaurs and turtles from the Upper Cretaceous formations of Alberta | journal = University of Toronto Studies, Geological Series | volume = 34 | pages = 1–33 }}</ref> In 1971, [[Joël Cracraft]], still under the assumption ''Caenagnathus'' was a bird, had named a second species of ''Caenagnathus'': ''Caenagnathus sternbergi'', based on specimen CMN 2690, a small lower jaw. In 1988 Russell and Currie concluded that these fossils might present a more gracile [[Polymorphism (biology)|morph]] of ''Chirostenotes pergracilis''. In 1989 however, Currie thought that they represented a separate smaller species, and named this as a second species of the closely related ''[[Elmisaurus]]'': ''Elmisaurus elegans''.<ref name=PJC89>{{cite journal | last1 = Currie | first1 = P.J. | year = 1989 | title = The first records of ''Elmisaurus'' (Saurischia, Theropoda) from North America | journal = Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences | volume = 26 | issue = 6| pages = 1319–1324 | doi=10.1139/e89-111}}</ref> In 1997, this was renamed to ''Chirostenotes elegans'' by [[Hans-Dieter Sues]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sues | first1 = H.D. | year = 1997 | title = On ''Chirostenotes'', a Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from Western North America | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 17 | issue = 4| pages = 698–716 | doi=10.1080/02724634.1997.10011018}}</ref> The species was moved to the new genus ''[[Leptorhynchos (dinosaur)|Leptorhynchos]]'' in 2013.<ref name=Caenagnathidae>{{Cite journal | last1 = Longrich | first1 = N. R. | last2 = Barnes | first2 = K. | last3 = Clark | first3 = S. | last4 = Millar | first4 = L. | title = Caenagnathidae from the Upper Campanian Aguja Formation of West Texas, and a Revision of the Caenagnathinae | doi = 10.3374/014.054.0102 | journal = Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History | volume = 54 | pages = 23–49 | year = 2013 }}</ref>▼
{{Multiple image
Several larger skeletons from the early [[Maastrichtian]] [[Horseshoe Canyon Formation]] of Alberta and the late [[Maastrichtian]] [[Hell Creek Formation]] of [[Montana]] and [[South Dakota]] have been referred to ''Chirostenotes'' in the past, though more recent studies concluded that they represent several new species.<ref name=caenagnathids>{{cite journal |author=Robert M. Sullivan, Steven E. Jasinski and Mark P.A. Van Tomme |year=2011 |title=A new caenagnathid ''Ojoraptorsaurus boerei'', n. gen., n. sp. (Dinosauria, Oviraptorosauria), from the Upper Ojo Alamo Formation (Naashoibito Member), San Juan Basin, New Mexico |url=http://www.robertmsullivanphd.com/uploads/169._Sullivan_et_al.__Ojoraptorsaurus__COLOR.pdf |journal=Fossil Record 3. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin |volume=53 |pages=418–428}}</ref> The Horseshore Canyon formation specimen was renamed ''[[Epichirostenotes]]'' in 2011, while the Hell Creek Formation specimens have been referred to the genus ''[[Anzu (dinosaur)|Anzu]]''.<ref name=anzu>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0092022| title = A New Large-Bodied Oviraptorosaurian Theropod Dinosaur from the Latest Cretaceous of Western North America| journal = PLoS ONE| volume = 9| issue = 3| pages = e92022| year = 2014| last1 = Lamanna | first1 = M. C. | last2 = Sues | first2 = H. D. | last3 = Schachner | first3 = E. R. | last4 = Lyson | first4 = T. R. | pmid=24647078 | pmc=3960162}}</ref>▼
| image1 = Pelvic elements of Chirostenotes.jpg
| image2 = Chirostenotes RTMP 79.20.1.jpg
| total_width = 240
| footer = Assigned specimen TMP 1979.020.0001, from the Dinosaur Park Formation.
| direction = vertical
}}
▲In 1988, a specimen from storage since 1923 was discovered and studied by [[Philip J. Currie]] and Dale Russell. This fossil helped link the other discoveries into a single dinosaur. Since the first name applied to any of these remains was ''Chirostenotes'', this were the only name that was recognized as valid.<ref name=CR88>{{cite journal | last1 = Currie | first1 = P.J. | last2 = Russell | first2 = D.A. | year = 1988 | title = Osteology and relationships of ''Chirostenotes pergracilis'' (Saurischia, Theropoda) from the Judith River (Oldman) Formation of Alberta, Canada | doi = 10.1139/e88-097 | journal = Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences | volume = 25 | issue = 7| pages = 972–986 | bibcode = 1988CaJES..25..972C }}</ref>
In 2007 a [[cladistic]] study by [[Philip Senter]] cast doubt on the idea that all of the large Dinosaur Park Formation fossils belonged to the same creature. Coding the original hand and jaw specimens separately showed that while the ''Caenagnathus'' holotype remained in the more basal position in the [[Caenagnathidae]] commonly assigned to it, the ''Chirostenotes pergracilis'' holotype was placed as an advanced oviraptorosaurian and an [[Oviraptoridae|oviraptorid]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Senter | first1 = P | year = 2007 | title = A new look at the phylogeny of Coelurosauria (Dinosauria: Theropoda) | journal = Journal of Systematic Palaeontology | volume = 5 | issue = 4| pages = 429–463 | doi=10.1017/s1477201907002143}}</ref> Subsequent studies found that the ''Caenagnathus'' jaws did in fact group together with other traditional caenagnathids, but not necessarily ''Chirostenotes''.<ref name=anzu/> New specimens described by Funston et al. (2015) and Funston & Currie (2020) indicated that ''Chirostenotes'' is a distinct form from ''Caenagnathus''.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/j.cretres.2014.12.002| title = New material of the large-bodied caenagnathid Caenagnathus collinsi from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada| journal = Cretaceous Research| volume = 54| pages = 179–187| year = 2015| last1 = Funston | first1 = G. F. | last2 = Persons | first2 = W. S. | last3 = Bradley | first3 = G. J. | last4 = Currie | first4 = P. J. }}</ref>▼
▲Currie and Russell also addressed the complicating issue of a possible second form being present in the material. In 1933 [[William Arthur Parks]] had named ''Ornithomimus elegans'', based on specimen ROM 781, another foot from Alberta.<ref name=WAP33>{{cite journal | last1 = Parks | first1 = W.A. | year = 1933 | title = New species of dinosaurs and turtles from the Upper Cretaceous formations of Alberta | journal = University of Toronto Studies, Geological Series | volume = 34 | pages = 1–33 }}</ref> In 1971, [[Joël Cracraft]], still under the assumption ''Caenagnathus'' was a bird, had named a second species of ''Caenagnathus'': ''Caenagnathus sternbergi'', based on specimen CMN 2690, a small lower jaw. In 1988 Russell and Currie concluded that these fossils might present a more gracile [[Polymorphism (biology)|morph]] of ''Chirostenotes pergracilis''. In 1989 however, Currie thought that they represented a separate smaller species, and named this as a second species of the closely related ''[[Elmisaurus]]'': ''Elmisaurus elegans''.<ref name=PJC89>{{cite journal | last1 = Currie | first1 = P.J. | year = 1989 | title = The first records of ''Elmisaurus'' (Saurischia, Theropoda) from North America | journal = Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences | volume = 26 | issue = 6| pages = 1319–1324 | doi=10.1139/e89-111| bibcode = 1989CaJES..26.1319C }}</ref> In 1997, this was renamed to ''Chirostenotes elegans'' by [[Hans-Dieter Sues]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sues | first1 = H.D. | year = 1997 | title = On ''Chirostenotes'', a Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from Western North America | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 17 | issue = 4| pages = 698–716 | doi=10.1080/02724634.1997.10011018}}</ref> The species was moved to the new genus ''[[Leptorhynchos (dinosaur)|Leptorhynchos]]'' in 2013.<ref name=Caenagnathidae>{{Cite journal | last1 = Longrich | first1 = N. R. | last2 = Barnes | first2 = K. | last3 = Clark | first3 = S. | last4 = Millar | first4 = L. | title = Caenagnathidae from the Upper Campanian Aguja Formation of West Texas, and a Revision of the Caenagnathinae | doi = 10.3374/014.054.0102 | journal = Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History | volume = 54 | pages = 23–49 | year = 2013 | s2cid = 128444961 }}</ref>
▲Several larger skeletons from the early [[Maastrichtian]] [[Horseshoe Canyon Formation]] of Alberta and the late [[Maastrichtian]] [[Hell Creek Formation]] of [[Montana]] and [[South Dakota]] have been referred to ''Chirostenotes'' in the past, though more recent studies concluded that they represent several new species.<ref name=caenagnathids>{{cite journal |author=Robert M. Sullivan, Steven E. Jasinski and Mark P.A. Van Tomme |year=2011 |title=A new caenagnathid ''Ojoraptorsaurus boerei'', n. gen., n. sp. (Dinosauria, Oviraptorosauria), from the Upper Ojo Alamo Formation (Naashoibito Member), San Juan Basin, New Mexico |url=http://www.robertmsullivanphd.com/uploads/169._Sullivan_et_al.__Ojoraptorsaurus__COLOR.pdf |journal=Fossil Record 3. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin |volume=53 |pages=418–428}}</ref> The Horseshore Canyon formation specimen was renamed ''[[Epichirostenotes]]'' in 2011, while the Hell Creek Formation specimens have been referred to the genus ''[[Anzu (dinosaur)|Anzu]]''.<ref name=anzu>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0092022| title = A New Large-Bodied Oviraptorosaurian Theropod Dinosaur from the Latest Cretaceous of Western North America| journal =
▲In 2007 a [[cladistic]] study by [[Philip Senter]] cast doubt on the idea that all of the large Dinosaur Park Formation fossils belonged to the same
==Description==
''Chirostenotes'' was characterized by long arms ending in slender relatively straight claws, and long powerful legs with slender toes. In 2016 Paul estimated its length at {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=}} and its weight at 100
▲''Chirostenotes'' was characterized by long arms ending in slender relatively straight claws, and long powerful legs with slender toes. In 2016 Paul estimated its length at {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=}} and its weight at 100 kg (220 lbs), while the same year Molina-Pérez and Larramendi gave a length of 2.6 meters (8.5 ft) and a weight of 40 kg (88 lbs).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Paul|first=Gregory S.|title=The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs 2nd Edition|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2016|location=New Jersey|pages=176}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Molina-Pérez & Larramendi|title=Récords y curiosidades de los dinosaurios Terópodos y otros dinosauromorfos|publisher=Larousse|year=2016|location=Spain|pages=271}}</ref>
==Classification==
The [[cladogram]] below follows an analysis by Funston & Currie in 2016, which found ''Elmisaurus'' within Caenagnathidae.<ref name=apatoraptor1>{{cite journal |author=Gregory F. Funston and Philip J. Currie |year=2016 |title=A new caenagnathid (Dinosauria: Oviraptorosauria) from the Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Alberta, Canada, and a reevaluation of the relationships of Caenagnathidae |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=
|label1=[[Caenagnathidae]]
|1={{clade
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|1='''''Chirostenotes pergracilis'''''
|2={{clade
|1=''[[
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Apatoraptor pennatus]]''
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==Paleobiology==
[[File:Caenagnathus dentaries-dorsal.jpg|thumb|Mandible of ''[[Caenagnathus|Caenagnathus collinsi]]'' (
''Chirostenotes'' was probably an [[omnivore]] or [[herbivore]], based on evidence from the beaks of related species like ''[[Anzu wyliei]]'' and ''[[Caenagnathus collinsi]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Funston |first=Gregory F. |last2=Currie |first2=Philip J. |date=February 2014 |title=A previously undescribed caenagnathid mandible from the late Campanian of Alberta, and insights into the diet of ''Chirostenotes pergracilis'' (Dinosauria: Oviraptorosauria) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2013-0186 |journal=Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=156–165 |doi=10.1139/cjes-2013-0186 |issn=0008-4077}}</ref>
In 2005 Phil Senter and J. Michael Parrish published a study on the hand function of ''Chirostenotes'' and found that its elongated second finger with its unusually straight claw may have been an adaptation to crevice probing. They suggested that ''Chirostenotes'' may have fed on soft-bodied prey that could be impaled by the second claw, such as grubs, as well as unarmored [[amphibian]]s, reptiles, and mammals.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Senter | first1 = P. | last2 = Parrish | first2 = J.M. | year = 2005 | title = Functional analysis of the hands of the theropod dinosaur ''Chirostenotes pergracilis'': evidence for an unusual paleoecological role | journal = PaleoBios | volume = 25 | pages = 9–19 }}</ref> However, if ''Chirostenotes'' possessed the large primary feathers on its second finger that have been found in other oviraptorosaurs such as ''[[Caudipteryx]]'', it would not have been able to engage in such behavior.<ref>Naish, D. (2007). [http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2007/03/feathers_and_filaments_of_dino.php Feathers and Filaments of Dinosaurs, Part II] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613235610/http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2007/03/feathers_and_filaments_of_dino.php |date=2010-06-13 }} Tetrapod Zoology, April 23, 2011.</ref>
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===Paleopathology===
In 2001, [[Bruce Rothschild]] and others published a study examining evidence for [[stress fractures]] and [[tendon avulsions]] in [[theropod]] dinosaurs and the implications for their behavior. They found that only one of the 17 ''Chirostenotes'' foot bones checked for stress fractures actually had them.<ref name="rothschild-dino">Rothschild, B., Tanke, D. H., and Ford, T. L., 2001, Theropod stress fractures and tendon avulsions as a clue to activity: In: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life, edited by Tanke, D. H., and Carpenter, K., Indiana University Press, p. 331-336.</ref>
[[File:Dinosaur Park Caenagnathid Sizes.png|center|thumb|371x371px|Caenagnathids of the Dinosaur Park Formation, to scale.]]
==See also==
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{{Reflist|3}}
{{Oviraptorosauria}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q131400}}
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