A re-appraisal of Parvicursor remotus from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia: implications for the phylogeny and taxonomy of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaurs

Abstract

Parvicursor remotus Karhu & Rautian, 1996, based on a fragmentary skeleton from the Campanian Barungoyot Formation at Khulsan, in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, is re-described in detail. Contrary to the original description, we find no evidence that the last dorsal vertebra is opisthocoelous. A biconvex last dorsal vertebra could be present in Parvicursor as in other parvicursorines. The transversely compressed sacral centrum with a sharp ventral keel is the last sacral, not the first sacral as originally alleged. The pelvic bones are not fused at the acetabulum. The holotype of P. remotus, the smallest known alvarezsaurid specimen, is a juvenile individual far from skeletal maturity. New morphological details of Parvicursor that are revealed include a ventral ridge on the posterior dorsal vertebrae; a horizontal supraacetabular crest of the ilium whose anterior end is placed anterior to the most ventrally projecting part of the pubic peduncle; the possible presence of a pubic obturator foramen; an entocondylar tuber on the femur; internal flexor flanges on metatarsals II and IV; a lateral flexor ridge on metatarsal IV; and a proximoventral notch on pedal phalanx IV-1. The Tugriken Shireh alvarezsaurid is not referable to Parvicursor because of its much larger ungual phalanx on the second pedal digit. Kol ghuva is excluded from Alzarezsauridae. The two successive sister taxa for Parvicursor are Ceratonykus and Linhenykus. Ceratonykus differs little from Parvicursor and might be a synonym of the latter. Linhenykus is very similar to Parvicursor in all overlapping skeletal elements. The Parvicursorinae includes all Asian Late Cretaceous alvarezsaurids except Qiupanykus and Nemegtonykus.