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| ==Characteristics== | ==Characteristics== | ||
| Like other dromaeosaurids, ''Utahraptor'' had a huge curved claw on the second toe that could grow to 23 cm (almost 9 inches) long. The animal may have grasped its prey with its forelimbs while kicking with its hindlimbs. Recents tests on reconstructions of the smaller species '']'' suggest that claws of this type were used for stabbing, not slashing. Up to 7 meters (20 feet) long and 700 kg (1500lbs) in weight, ''Utahraptor'' would have been a formidable predator (Kirkland ''et al.'' 1993). | Like other dromaeosaurids, ''Utahraptor'' had a huge curved claw on the second toe that could grow to 23 cm (almost 9 inches) long. The animal may have grasped its prey with its forelimbs while kicking with its hindlimbs. Recents tests on reconstructions of the smaller species '']'' suggest that claws of this type were used for stabbing, not slashing. Up to 7 meters (20 feet) long, 8 feet tall and 700 kg (1500lbs) in weight, ''Utahraptor'' would have been a formidable predator (Kirkland ''et al.'' 1993). | ||
| == Classification == | == Classification == | ||
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| * ''Utahraptor'' was the subject of the book ''Raptor Red'' by ]. | * ''Utahraptor'' was the subject of the book ''Raptor Red'' by ]. | ||
| * ] contains a ''Utahraptor'' as a main character. | * ] contains a ''Utahraptor'' as a main character. | ||
| ==External Links== | |||
| * | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 05:56, 25 March 2006
| Utahraptor | |
|---|---|
| File:Utahraptor.jpg | |
| Conservation status | |
| Template:StatusFossil | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Family: | Dromaeosauridae |
| Genus: | Utahraptor |
| Species: | U. ostrommaysorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Utahraptor ostrommaysorum Kirkland, Gaston & Burge, 1993 | |
Utahraptor ("Utah thief") is the largest known member of the theropod dinosaur family Dromaeosauridae, and dates from the upper Barremian stage of the Lower Cretaceous period (126 million years ago).
Discovery and species
Kirkland, Gaston, and Burge discovered Utahraptor in 1993 in Grand County, Utah, within the Cedar Mountain Formation. The type specimen is currently housed at the College of Eastern Utah, although Brigham Young University currently houses the largest collection of Utahraptor fossils.
The type species (and only known species of Utahraptor), Utahraptor ostrommaysorum, was named for the American paleontologist John Ostrom, from Yale University's Peabody Museum, and Chris Mays, of Dinamation International.
Characteristics
Like other dromaeosaurids, Utahraptor had a huge curved claw on the second toe that could grow to 23 cm (almost 9 inches) long. The animal may have grasped its prey with its forelimbs while kicking with its hindlimbs. Recents tests on reconstructions of the smaller species Velociraptor suggest that claws of this type were used for stabbing, not slashing. Up to 7 meters (20 feet) long, 8 feet tall and 700 kg (1500lbs) in weight, Utahraptor would have been a formidable predator (Kirkland et al. 1993).
Classification
It is thought that Utahraptor may be closely related to the much smaller Dromaeosaurus (Kirkland et al. 1993) and the giant Mongolian dromaeosaurid Achillobator.
A slightly more detailed classification:
- Order Saurischia ("lizard hipped" dinosaurs)
- Suborder Theropoda (bipedal carnivores)
- Clade Tetanurae (advanced theropods)
- Infraorder Coelurosauria (birds and bird-like dinosaurs)
- Clade Maniraptora ("birds" with modern feathers)
- Clade Deinonychosauria (switchblade-like claws)
- Family Dromaeosauridae (the "raptors")
- Genus Utahraptor
- Family Dromaeosauridae (the "raptors")
- Clade Deinonychosauria (switchblade-like claws)
- Clade Maniraptora ("birds" with modern feathers)
- Infraorder Coelurosauria (birds and bird-like dinosaurs)
- Clade Tetanurae (advanced theropods)
- Suborder Theropoda (bipedal carnivores)
In popular culture
- Utahraptor was the subject of the book Raptor Red by Robert T. Bakker.
- Dinosaur Comics contains a Utahraptor as a main character.
External Links
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