Utahraptor ostrommaysorum

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Life-size bronze statue by Gary Prazen

What do you get when you combine a mega-blockbuster science fiction movie and the scientific proof to back it up?

You find out that reality is more shocking than fiction.

Utahraptor is the largest of all raptor dinosaurs.  It is also the oldest of this family, living approximately 125 million years ago.  Many of the feathered dinosaurs found in Chinese lake deposits are over 10 million years younger than Utahraptor.  It is possible that Utahraptor had feathers also, though none have been found.  Note the size and position of the killing claw on the skeleton.  It has the same proportional size and flexibility as its living raptorial descendants, eagles, hawks and falcons.  Utahraptor gained fame by starring in Jurassic Park.  No you say, it was Velociraptor.  Indeed, moviemaker Steven Spielberg used the name, Velociraptor in his movies, however, in reality, Velociraptor is less than half the size of the dinosaurs depicted in Jurassic Park.   Utahraptor was found the year that Jurassic Park came out and gave scientific credence to the large-sized raptors in the movies.  It’s just that they are really utahraptors not velociraptors!

It is thought that with the super-slashing claw on each hind foot, the Utahraptor could deliver a death sentence to a dinosaur with one kick. Based on its size, by rotating its limbs and extending its claw, it could make a cut 5 to 6 feet long with one slice. It is thought that Utahraptors moved in packs, where they were able to choose dinosaurs much larger than themselves as prey.

Read more on our Utahraptor Page