Exquisite Raptor Discovery

Galvasean · 19-03-2010 6:22pm #1

Presenting the newest member of the dreaded dromaeosaur family to be found in the Gobi Desert. (the article says Mongolia, China. Of course we all know that Mongolia is not part of China).

At approximately 2.5 metres long and 25 kilograms, the researchers believe Linheraptor would have been a fast, agile predator that preyed on small horned dinosaurs related to Triceratops. Like other dromaeosaurids, it possessed a large "killing claw" on the foot, which may have been used to capture prey. Within the Dromaeosauridae family, Linheraptor is most closely related to another recently discovered species Tsaagan mangas.

Linheraptor differs from all other dromaeosaurs because of a triangular hole in front of the eye socket called the antorbital fenestra, which is a space in the skull that sinuses would have occupied. In Linheraptor this triangular hole is divided into two cavities - one of which is particularly big.

Full article (and video) here.

Galvasean · 23-03-2010 6:28pm

Nice artist's impression here by Matt von Rooijen.

Yitzhak Rabin · 23-03-2010 7:09pm

Galvasean wrote: »

(the article says Mongolia, China. Of course we all know that Mongolia is not part of China).

It was found in inner mongolia, which suprisingly is not in Mongolia, but in China.

Galvasean · 23-03-2010 8:41pm

Weird...

Weidii · 27-03-2010 5:42am

Amazing specimen. Looks like it wasn't subject to scavenging or even alot of rotting before it was buried in sediment. I wonder if it died by a river bank?

Galvasean · 27-03-2010 6:09pm

I'd say it's a distinct possibility. For that level of preservation to occur there would definately have had to been a quick burial. It could also have been buried in a sandstorm. Apparently they were quite common at the time.

Exquisite Raptor Discovery

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