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sharp-clawed runner
Megaraptor
Say it like this: “meg-a-RAP-tor”
Megaraptor namunhuaiquii
Megaraptor ate meat and walked on two legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Argentina.
- When
- Late Cretaceous (Turonian · Coniacian) · roughly 93.9 to 85.7 million years ago
- Named in
- 1998 · Novas, F. E.
- Hip height
- 2.4 m · 8 ft
- Length
- 8–10 m · 26–33 ft
- Weight
- 1–1.3 tonnes
- Found in
- Argentina · Portezuelo
- Food and walking
- Carnivore · Two legs
- Kind
- sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
- Family branch
- Megaraptoridae
The story in short
The genus Megaraptor dates to 1998, the year F. E. Novas described it. The name means “large thief.”
Fossils referred to Megaraptor date to the Late Cretaceous (Turonian · Coniacian), roughly 93.9 to 85.7 million years ago. Finds come from Argentina, including the Portezuelo Formation. It was a carnivore and walked on two legs.
Published estimates put Megaraptor at a length near 8–10 m, hips about 2.4 m high, and a body mass around 1–1.3 tonnes.
On the family tree it sits in Megaraptoridae, among the theropod dinosaurs.
Close relatives
Aerosteon
Aerosteon riocoloradensis
Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago
Australovenator
Australovenator wintonensis
Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) · roughly 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago
Joaquinraptor
Joaquinraptor casali
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago