Graciliraptor
Name:
Graciliraptor
(graceful thief.).
Phonetic: Gray-sil-e-rap-tor.
Named By: X. Xu & X.-L. Wang -
2004.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Theropoda, Saurischia, Theropoda, Dromaeosauroidea,
Dromaeosauridae, Microraptoria.
Species: G. lujiatunensis
(type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Roughly estimated to be about 90
centimetres long.
Known locations: China, Liaoning Province -
Yixian Formation, Lujiatun Member.
Time period: Early Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Fragmentary maxilla (main
tooth earing bone of the upper jaw) and partial post cranial skeleton.
Though only known from fragmentary remains, Graciliraptor has been a key find for our understanding of dromaeosaurid dinosaurs as it represents one of the earliest known appearances of such a creature. At the time of its description in 2004, Graciliraptor was considered to be a close relative of the famous Microraptor, and like Microraptor, Graciliraptor was of a small size and probably had an extensive covering of feathers in life.
Further reading
- A new dromaeosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early
Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning. - Vertebrata
PalAsiatica 42(2):111-119. - X. Xu & X.-L.
Wang - 2004.
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