Image: Dakotaraptor Skeleton Reconstruction

Description: Skeletal diagram featuring the known elements and size of the holotype of the giant dromaeosaurids Dakotaraptor steini. The holotype PBMNH.P.10.113.T, consists of: Right pedal ungual II, right pedal ungual III, right femur, left and right tibia, left astragalus and calcaneum, left metatarsal II and IV, right metatarsal IV, isolated fragmentary dorsal centrum, 10 caudal vertebrae, left and right humerus, left and right radius, left and right ulna, right metacarpal I and II, three fragmentary left manual phalanges. The tooth depicted here belongs to specimens PBMNH.P.10.119.T and PBMNH.P.10.121.T, which are estimated to have come from an adult individual too.[1] The relationships of Dakotaraptor within the Dromaeosauridae are complex; most cladograms exclude Dakotaraptor, however, in the original description it was placed between the Dromaeosaurinae, which contains heavy-built animals such as Achillobator and Utahraptor, despite the relatively slender anatomy of this animal.[1] Surprinsingly enough, in the latest phylogenetic analysis, Dakotaraptor was placed in the Unenlagiinae, being the sister taxon to Unenlagia.[2] In the original description, three furculae were associated to the genus, specimens NCSM 13170, KUVP 152429 and the one from the holotype PBMNH P.10.113.T. These furculae were revised, and they turned out to be from a entoplastron belonging to a trionychid turtle. Therefore, the proposed furcula for the hypodigm of Dakotaraptor should be excluded, the same goes for the referred specimens.[3] Color Key   Known   Unknown
Title: Dakotaraptor Skeleton Reconstruction
Credit: Own work
Author: PaleoNeolitic
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
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