In Depth Sinornithosaurus was especially well preserved, and not only were the presence of feathers clearly revealed; they showed indications of having differing colours for different body areas. The feathers, while not exactly like those of modern birds, are still more advanced than in other species, including some of the later dromaeosaurids. This is significant … Read more
In Depth Dineobellator is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in North America during the last stage of the Cretaceous. When compared to other dinosaurs, Dineobellator seems to have been on the way to developing some advanced specialisations, and shows greater range of motion in both hands and feet. Additionally there also seems to … Read more
In Depth Named in 1876 upon the description of some teeth, we know that Zapsalis was a dromaeosaurid dinosaur, but that’s about it. For this reason the genus is often listed as dubious, as like with most tooth taxons it would be very difficult to attribute actual fossils of bones. Zapsalis was initially described from … Read more
In Depth Pyroraptor acquired its name from the circumstances of its discovery. In 1992 the partially preserved remains of this dinosaur where discovered after a forest fire had swept through the area. Despite the very incomplete remains it has been possible to identify Pyroraptor as a distinct genus from the unique form of the sickle-shaped … Read more
In Depth As a creature that displays both dinosaurian and avian features, it is not known for certain how Rahonavis fits in with the evolution of birds from dinosaurs. This is problem shared with other discoveries such as Xiaotingia and even Archaeopteryx as the difining line of when a bird becomes a bird and not … Read more
In Depth Halszkaraptor is without doubt one of the most interesting dromaeosaurid dinosaurs ever discovered. Although a dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Halszkaraptor seems to have lived more like a modern day semi aquatic bird. Halszkaraptor could still walk about on land, the rear legs were easily strong enough for this. But the tail was not stiffened like … Read more
In Depth First discovered in the Canadian Province of Alberta by Irene Vanderloh in 1974 and named by Hans-Dieter Sues in 1978, Saurornitholestes was a small dromaeosaur that is thought to have been similar to the Asian Velociraptor in form. In 2006 a second species called Saurornitholestes robustus was named by Robert Sullivan. The ‘robustus’ … Read more
In Depth To start with the discovery, fossil specimens that would be raised as Richardoestesia where actually described as belonging to the type species of another dinosaur named Chirostenotes. Study in the 1980‘s however yielded the revelation that Chirostenotes was an oviraptorid, which means that the more classic theropod jaws and teeth could not possibly … Read more
In Depth Itemirus is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur that so far is only known from very incomplete fossil remains. Further Reading - Brain-case structure in the carnosaur Itemirus n. gen. and some aspects of the cranial anatomy of dinosaurs. - Paleontological Journal 1976(3):361-369. - S. M. Kurzanov - 1976. - Dromaeosauridae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from … Read more
In Depth Imperobator is a genus of possible dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in Antarctica during the late Cretaceous. Further reading - Phylogeny of a new gigantic paravian (Theropoda; Coelurosauria; Maniraptora) from the Upper Cretaceous of James Ross Island, Antarctica. - Cretaceous Research 101:1-16. - R. C. Ely & J. A. Case - 2019.