Yuanmouraptor

Say it like this: “yoo-AHN-moo-RAP-tuh”

Yuanmouraptor jinshajiangensis

Yuanmouraptor ate meat and walked on two legs. It lived in the Middle Jurassic. Bones have been found in China.

Quiz me on Yuanmouraptor

When: Middle Jurassic (Aalenian · Bajocian) · roughly 174.7 to 168.2 million years ago
Named in: 2025 · Zou, Y.; Chen, L.; Wang, T.; Wang, G. F.; Zhang, W. G.; Zhang, X. Q.; Wang, Z. J.; Wu, X. C.; You, H. L.
Hip height: Not established
Length: Not established
Weight: Not established
Found in: China · Zhanghe
Food and walking: Carnivore · Two legs
Kind: sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
Family branch: Metriacanthosauridae

The story in short

Yuanmouraptor was formally named in 2025 by Y. Zou and colleagues.

Fossils referred to Yuanmouraptor date to the Middle Jurassic (Aalenian · Bajocian), roughly 174.7 to 168.2 million years ago. Finds come from China, including the Zhanghe Formation. It was a carnivore and walked on two legs.

The fossils of Yuanmouraptor are too incomplete for a responsible length, hip height, or weight, so those fields are left blank on purpose.

On the family tree it sits in Metriacanthosauridae, among the theropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Alpkarakush

Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus

Middle Jurassic (Callovian) · roughly 165.3 to 161.5 million years ago

Shidaisaurus

Shidaisaurus jinae

Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) · roughly 170.9 to 168.2 million years ago

Yangchuanosaurus

Yangchuanosaurus shangyouensis

Middle Jurassic · Late Jurassic (Bajocian–Oxfordian) · roughly 170.9 to 154.8 million years ago