Graciliraptor: Research Database
Dinosauria (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae) · Early Cretaceous (~130-125 MYA) · Asia — China (Liaoning Province)
Research Note: Graciliraptor was a small dromaeosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, China — one of the smallest known dromaeosaurs, providing important data on body size evolution in this group during the Cretaceous.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lingham-Soliar 2003: A new small theropod from the Yixian Formation, China Naturwissenschaften | Confirmed | A | 2003 | Fossil | Lingham-Soliar, Naturwissenschaften | Taxonomy |
Case et al. 2007: New dinosaur discoveries from the Yixian Formation USGS Open-File Report | Confirmed | B | 2007 | Fossil | Case et al., USGS Open-File Report | Diversity |
What We Still Do Not Know About Graciliraptor
- Complete skeletal morphology.
- Feathering: Inferred from related taxa.
- Social behavior.
- Diet.
In Depth
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.
