Manipulonyx

Manipulonyx
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous,
Reconstructed skeleton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Family: Alvarezsauridae
Subfamily: Parvicursorinae
Genus: Manipulonyx
Averianov, Lopatin & Atuchin, 2025
Species:
M. reshetovi
Binomial name
Manipulonyx reshetovi
Averianov, Lopatin & Atuchin, 2025

Manipulonyx is an extinct genus of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaurs known from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian age) Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. The genus contains a single species, Manipulonyx reshetovi, known from a partial skeleton. This includes the most complete forelimb known from any member of the alvarezsaurid subfamily Parvicursorinae, including all of the proximal carpal bones. Manipulonyx has been interpreted as an ovivore (egg-eater), with unique ossified spikes on the wrist that helped the animal to grasp eggs and an enlarged claw on the functionally-monodactyl hand being used to puncture the egg before consumption.