| Megaraptor Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
|---|---|
| |
| Life restoration of Megaraptor | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Theropoda |
| Clade: | Avetheropoda |
| Clade: | †Megaraptora |
| Genus: | †Megaraptor Novas, 1998 |
| Species: | †M. namunhuaiquii |
| Binomial name | |
| Megaraptor namunhuaiquii Novas, 1998 | |
Megaraptor namunhuaiquii (meaning "giant thief") is an extinct genus of megaraptoran theropod dinosaur that lived in Argentina during the Late Cretaceous period.
General Information[]
Megaraptor was a large theropod of the Cretaceous Period, 84 to 65 mya.It's most distinguishing feature was on each hand had a 14 inch (35 centimeters) sickle-like claw on it's thumb and the other fingers had smaller claws. When alive, this claw would have been sheathed in a horny, keratinous material much like our fingernails, making the claw even bigger, longer and sharper. The tail was probably used for balance and fast turning. It may have had a relatively large brain and large eyes. Megaraptor was about 25–26 feet (7.5–8 meters) long. In 2010, Gregory S. Paul estimated its length at 8 metres (26 ft), its weight at 1 tonne (2,200 lb).[5] Initially, Megaraptor was generally titled to be the biggest dromaeosaur, and it has been historically considered a spinosaurid, a carcharodontosaurid related to Neovenator, or a coelurosaur, possibly even a tyrannosauroid. The most widely accepted placements are as a basal coelurosaur or a relative of Neovenator. But recent studies claim Megaraptor might a tyrannosauroid; however the recent estimates deny this claim and show the animal's linage closer to a basal coelurosaur.
Discovery[]
Incomplete Megaraptor remains were found in 1996 in Northwest Patagonia, Argentina, by paleontologist Fernando E. Novas. Novas named it in 1998 (when it was still thought to be a raptor, hence the name). Fossils included a huge sickle-shaped claw, metatarsal, ulna, and a finger bone. [1]
Hypothetical reconstructed skeleton
History[]
Discovered in 1997 in Argentina, Megaraptor was found associated with the fossil remains of Unenlagia, a bird-like dinosaur. There is some speculation that Megaraptor was the adult version of Unenlagia, which is known from an apparently juvenile specimen. Remains of a specimen similar to those of the Megaraptor have also recently been found in China and await study. [2]
In The Media[]
- A Megaraptor named Marco featured in 1 episode of Dinosaur Train: Big Misty Sea Fishing Contest where He, Mr. Pteranodon & The old Spinosaurus have a contest to see who can catch the Biggest Fish in the Misty Sea.
- Megaraptor appeared on Dinosaur King, as a wild dinosaur, and one of the Spectral Dinosaurs controlled by the Spectral Space Pirates.
- Megaraptor appeared in the video game Warpath: Jurassic Park.
- Megaraptor is seen in the webseries Dino-Defenders extreme.
Gallery[]
Megaraptor/Gallery
References[]
- Name Pronunciation/Phylum/Genus/Superoder/Kingdom wikipedia [3]
- History from [4]
- Discovery [5]
- General Information [6]
- Megaraptor Details Picture [7]
- Megaraptor/gallery