Aorun zhaoi

Aorun was a strange little theropod known from the Late Jurassic-aged Shishugou Formation of China. It was a coelurosaurian theropod, but exactly what type was a mystery for some time. Current thinking suggests Aorun was a basal Alvarezsaur, which may not be too surprising considering it lived alongside at least 2 other basal Alvarezsaurs (Haplocheirus and Shishugounykus) in the same region. It is known only from a juvenile specimen that was around 1 meter (3.3 feet) in length, so the adult size is currently unknown for certain, although Alvarezsaurs typically don't grow large among theropods. Unlike the specialist later forms like Shuvuuia, Aorun was likely a generalist predator of small vertebrates.