A new ornithomimid theropod from the Upper Cretaceous Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan

Dzharacursor gen. nov. is established for the reception of Archaeornithomimus(?) bissektensis Nesov, 1995 from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan. Dzharacursor bissektensis is represented by cranial elements and many isolated postcranial bones that show considerable ontogenetic and some individual variation. Several of the morphological characters previously hypothesized as autapomorphies for Qiupalong henanesis and Aepyornithomimus tugrikinensis are found to be variable in the hypodigm for Dzaracursor bissektensis. Dzharacursor bissektensis is one of the oldest known ornithomimids in Asia. Phylogenetic analysis places this taxon at the base of the ornithomimid radiation, but more derived than Archaeornithomimus asiaticus.