Atrociraptor is a genus of small carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 90 million years ago. It was first discovered in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico in the United States in 2003. The type species is Atrociraptor marshalli, named after paleontologist William J. Marshall. Atrociraptor is a member of the family Dromaeosauridae, or "raptor" dinosaurs. It was a small predator, measuring between 2 and 3 meters long, and was characterized by its long, slender arms and legs, as well as its large, curved claws. Its long snout and narrow jaws were also well-adapted for catching small prey.
Atrociraptor is believed to have been an opportunistic feeder, preying on lizards, small mammals, and even other small dinosaurs. Its ability to run quickly and use its claws to grab and hold onto prey would have made it an effective hunter. Atrociraptor is an important species in terms of understanding the evolution of the dromaeosaurid family. Its small size and primitive features indicate that it is a transitional form between larger, more advanced dromaeosaurids such as Velociraptor and earlier, more primitive forms such as Deinonychus.
| Name: | Atrociraptor dinosaurs |
| Size: | measuring between 2 and 3 meters long. |
| Body: | Atrociraptor is a genus of small carnivorous dinosaur. |
| Neck: | Atrociraptor a long neck |
| Tail : | Atrociraptor a long tail. |
| Main Facts: | Atrociraptor is closely related to other feathered dinosaurs from the same region, including the oviraptorosaur Avimimus and the dromaeosaurid Deinonychus. Together, these animals form a distinct group of theropods known as the Avimimidae, which were probably closely related to the ancestors of modern birds. |
Atrociraptor is a genus of small carnivorous dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Period (75-65 million years ago).
They were the first members of the theropod family (which includes modern birds) to be discovered in North America and were among the earliest dinosaurs to be found in the area. As such, Atrociraptor has had a significant impact on the study of dinosaurs and the evolution of life on Earth.
Atrociraptor was found in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, which contains fossil remains from the end of the Cretaceous Period.
The discovery of Atrociraptor provided scientists with important information about theropod evolution and the timeline of events during the time period. It also provided insight into the behavior and ecology of theropods, which was previously unknown.
Atrociraptor also provided evidence that theropods were more diverse than previously thought. Its discovery showed that theropods were not limited to just large carnivores, but also included smaller, more agile predators.
This information has been used to better understand the evolutionary history of theropods, as well as the behavior of modern birds.
Atrociraptor has helped scientists better understand the extinction of the dinosaurs. Its discovery showed that some species of dinosaurs were able to survive the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period.
This has given scientists insight into the factors that may have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs and how some species were able to survive.
Atrociraptor has had a significant impact on the study of dinosaurs and the evolution of life on Earth. Its discovery has provided important information about theropod evolution, their behavior, and the factors that may have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Atrociraptor is a genus of theropod dinosaurs that lived in the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 65 million years ago. It was a small but powerful predator that lived in what is now North America. Atrociraptor was a member of the Dromaeosauridae family which includes other famous dinosaurs such as Velociraptor and Deinonychus.
Atrociraptor marshalli –
This species of Atrociraptor was one of the earliest members of the group, discovered in Utah in 2008. It was named after the American paleontologist Samuel P. Marshall. It was relatively small, measuring around 1.3 meters in length, and had an unusually long, narrow skull.
Atrociraptor antirrhopus –
This species was discovered in the same formation as A. marshalli, but had a significantly larger skull. It was estimated to be around 1.8 meters in length, making it one of the largest members of the Atrociraptor genus.
Atrociraptor kornaysi –
This species was discovered in Canada in 2012 and is the most recently discovered member of the genus. It was named after the paleontologist David Kornay. It was around 1.7 meters in length and had a distinctive, deep snout.
Atrociraptor libratus –
This species was discovered in Utah in 2010. It was named after the Latin word for "free", libratus. It was around 1.6 meters in length and had a relatively short skull compared to other members of the genus.
Atrociraptor mongoliensis –
This species was discovered in Mongolia in 2006. It was estimated to be around 1.5 meters in length and had a relatively short skull. It is thought to be closely related to A. marshalli.
