![Expand the dinosaur category options](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-open.png)
![Close the dinosaur category options](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-close.png)
![Expand the dinosaur A-Z category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-open.png)
![Close the dinosaur A-Z category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-close.png)
![Expand the dinosaur time period category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-open.png)
![Close the dinosaur time period category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-close.png)
![Expand the dinosaur country category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-open.png)
![Close the dinosaur country category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-close.png)
![Expand the type of dinosaur category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-open.png)
![Close the type of dinosaur category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-close.png)
![Expand what they ate dinosaur category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-open.png)
![Close what they ate dinosaur category](/etc.clientlibs/nhmwww/clientlibs/clientlib-site/resources/images/png-icons/dinonav-close.png)
Shuvuuia
Shuvuuia
- Pronunciation:
- shu-voo-ee-ah
- Name meaning:
- 'bird'
![Shuvuuia](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/nature-online/life/dinosaurs/dinosaur-directory/images/reconstruction/small/Shuvuuia.jpg)
©
- Type of dinosaur:
- small theropod
- Length:
- 0.6m
- Diet:
- omnivorous
- When it lived:
- Late Cretaceous, 75-81 million years ago
- Found in:
- Mongolia
Shuvuuia is known from a well-preserved skull and postcranium. This very small desert dinosaur may have eaten termites. Its lower jaw was not interlocked with the skull, allowing its mouth to open very wide for larger prey.
Taxonomic details
- Taxonomy:
- Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Tetanurae, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Alvarezsauridae
- Named by:
- Chiappe, Norell and Clark (1998)
- Type species:
- deserti
![](/content/dam/nhmwww/discover/dinosaurs/triassic-lighter-hti-wide.jpg)
Step back in time
Find out more about dinosaurs' lives and the world they lived in.
![](/content/dam/nhmwww/discover/dinosaurs/kids-dinosaur-board-games-hti-top-wide.jpg)
Fun and games
Learn more about dinosaurs through toys, board games and activity kits, available from our online shop.
![](/content/dam/nhmwww/visit/Galleriesandfloorplans/t-rex-dinosaur-hti-top-wide.jpg)
Dinosaurs gallery
Roarrr. Come face-to-face with some of the Museum's most famous dinosaurs.