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Dakotaraptor facts for kids

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Dakotaraptor
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), 66Ma
Dakotaraptor (white background).jpg
Reconstructed skeleton
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Clade: Eumaniraptora
Clade: Deinonychosauria
Genus: Dakotaraptor
DePalma et al. 2015
Type species
Dakotaraptor steini
DePalma et al. 2015

Dakotaraptor (meaning “thief from Dakota”) is a potentially chimaeric genus of large dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous period. Dakotaraptor was a medium-sized predator that lived about 66 million years ago. The discovery of Dakotaraptor filled a niche in the ecological system that scientists "thought was empty".

Discovery and naming

Dakotaraptor Skeleton Reconstruction
Skeletal composite showing the known elements

In 2005, paleontologist Robert DePalma in Harding County, South Dakota discovered a variety of dinosaurian and non-dinosaurian remains. Among them was a partial skeleton attributed by DePalma to a large dromaeosaurid.

The name, Dakotaraptor, has a reference to the US state of South Dakota, where the bones were discovered. The Latin word raptor, which forms the second part of the name, means "plunderer".

Description

Lateral silhouette mockup Alt 2 Wiki
A restored replica of the Dakotaraptor holotype compared to silhouettes of Deinonychus, Velociraptor and a human

Dakotaraptor is exceptionally large for a dromaeosaurid. Adult animals were about 5.5 m (18 ft) in length. In 2016, other estimations suggested a length of 4.35-6 m (14.3-19.7 ft) and a weight of 220-350 kg (485-772 lbs).

Its body was covered with feathers. Although it had wings, it could not fly, like ostriches, emus, and other flightless birds. The wingspan of Dakotaraptor was estimated at 120 centimetres (47 in). The animal might have used its wings to threaten enemies and to keep its balance when killing prey.

Dakotaraptor RPR
Dakotaraptor might have used its arms to keep its balance while subduing prey. Here, an Ornithomimus is the victim.

Dakotaraptor had large, sharp claws on its front and rear limbs that could grab onto anything and slice them to bits. The animal had very strong legs and was able to run very fast. Dakotaraptors probably hunted in packs.

It could have preyed upon larger herbivores, possibly competing with subadult Tyrannosaurus in the 6–9 metres (20–30 ft) length range. It lived alongside other famous Hell Creek dinosaurs, including the aforementioned Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Pachycephalosaurus, Ornithomimus, and Edmontosaurus.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dakotaraptor steini para niños

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