Dakotaraptor steini

Dakotaraptor steini (DePalma et al., 2015) 

Dinosauria 

Theropoda 

Tetanurae 

Coelurosauria 

Maniraptora 

Paraves 

Dromaeosauridae (Raptors) 

Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) 

Hell Creek Formation 

South Dakota, United States 

Length: 4.5 - 6 m 

If valid*, despite being one of the largest known dromaeosaurs (raptors), Dakotaraptor retains the relatively agile build of smaller dromaeosaurs like Deinonychus rather than the stocky build of similarly sized dromaeosaurs like Utahraptor. 

* Note: Dakotaraptor's taxonomic validity is currently uncertain and may represent a chimaera. 

Sunday, January 8th, 2023