Buitreraptor is an extinct genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Late Cretaceous epoch. The type and only species is Buitreraptor gonzalezorum. Discovered in 2004 but not described until 2005, this early Late Cretaceous dromaeosaurid weighed just 3 kilograms and was 1.5 metres long according to estimates by Gregory S. Paul in 2010. It has been concluded that this dinosaur hunted small lizards and mammals rather than larger prey like some other dromaeosaurs. No feathers have been found but it is highly likely that it did have them as some of its close relatives like Sinornithosaurus and Microraptor have been found with feathers.
History of discovery[]
Buitreraptor is from the early Late Cretaceous Candeleros Formation, dating to the Cenomanian-Turonian ages approximately 98 to 97 million years ago.
Description[]
Buitreraptor is a small dromaeosaur from the Cretaceous of Argentina. It was about four to five feet long (1.5 metres). Buitreraptor has a slender, flat, extremely elongated snout. Its jaws have many small teeth which lack meat-tearing serrations or cutting edges.
Classification[]
Buitreraptor was described in 2005 and the type species is Buitreraptor gonzalezorum.
Paleobiology[]
This small dinosaur was different to many typical dromaeosaurids due to its slender elongated snout full of of many small serated teeth. Like its close relatives, Buitreraptor had sharp, hooked claws on its hind legs. With their help, this predator could inflict wounds on its prey, piercing the skin and the arteries.
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