FAMILY DROMAEOSAURIDAE
Deinonychus was well adapted for hunting. It had fast, powerful thighs and a large head with sharp teeth that were perfect for biting off pieces of flesh and holding small prey in its mouth. Deinonychus' unique trait, however, was a single large, curved claw found on both of its feet. When Deinonychus was walking or running, the claw was pulled back so it wouldn't interfere with the movement. But when it was attacking, the claw was lowered so it could be used as a sharp weapon. Deinonychus likely grabbed its prey with its mouth and hands and tore its belly. For this reason it got its name that means 'terrible claws'.
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Infra order: Coelurosauria
Super family: Dromaeosauroidea
Family: Dromaeosauridae
Period: Cretaceous
Size: 2 metres
Location: Canada, North America
Discovered: Matthew and Brown, 1922
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Infra order: Coelurosauria
Super family: Dromaeosauroidea
Family: Dromaeosauridae
Megaraptor, its name does not deal with its body features but it does when the 15-inch rear leg claw is seen. Megaraptor is considered the largest of all the dromaeosauridae members, unless this dinosaur was discovered Utaraptor was considered the largest. Having a magnificent length of nearly 8 metres (26.6 feet) Megaraptor became the unbeatably one.
Compared to this lately discovered dinosaur, Deinonychus is just a little one of it's family. The discovery of this new species have led scientists believe that there could be an even large dinosaur waiting to be discovered.
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Infra order: Coelurosauria
Super family: Dromaeosauroidea
Family: Dromaeosauridae
Utahraptor, is it the largest of the raptors? When in 1996 a team of palaeontologists discovered the fossil of this late Cretaceous dinosaur, it was the greatest discovery of the time. Till this discovery was done Deinonychus was considered the king of the kings, but Utaraptor being of the ultimate size, i.e., 6 metres (20 feet) long and weighing almost a ton, and finally a large killing talon or claw on its hind leg, mid-toe of an incredible size of 10 inches, it was the best known hunter.
To match its hunting speed there grew a new family during this period; nodosauridae, how ever having such large claws and strong jaws with sharp teeth it was built for speed and agility to hunt victims, like those nodosauridae. This dinosaur was a biped and had a stiff held tail leading to great support and speed.
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Infra order: Coelurosauria
Super family: Dromaeosauroidea
Family: Dromaeosauridae
Velociraptor means 'speedy plunderer', and indeed, this Cretaceous Period dinosaur was built to be a quick hunter. Velociraptor was lightweight with long back legs for running, a stiff tail for balance and a fairly large brain. Like its cousin, Deinonychus, the middle toe of each hind leg had a large, vicious curved claw that could be used for slashing at its prey.
Some scientists think Velociraptor hunted in packs, perhaps bringing down dinosaurs much larger than themselves by grabbing them with their front claws and slashing at their bellies with their mean back claw. A human being could have been torn apart in 30 seconds by a pack of Velociraptor. These terrible reptiles were 2 metres (6.6 feet) long, a metre high and weighed 213 pounds. Lived about a 90 million years ago in the late Cretaceous period, they would have terrorised their neighbour hood.
A very exciting dinosaur find occurred in Mongolia in 1971. It included a Velociraptor and a Protoceratops locked in a deadly embrace. The Protoceratops had caved the chest of the Velociraptor and the Velociraptor was ripping the belly of the Protoceratops. Both died together, but how? Is still an unknown fact.
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Infra order: Coelurosauria
Super family: Dromaeosauroidea
Family: Dromaeosauridae
Home | Editorial |Dino Gallery | Dino Search | Hot Links | Buy Books
About Us | Contact Us | Subscribe | Suggestions | Propogate Books