Raptors - Modern & Prehistoric Predators

Image Credit: Scouting Party Published: Sep 8, 2017 by Herschel-Hoffmeyer

Raptor
/ˈraptə/
noun
1: a carnivorous medium- to large-sized bird (such as a hawk, eagle, owl, or vulture) that has a hooked beak and large sharp talons and that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : BIRD OF PREY
2: [New Latin -raptor (as in velociraptor)] : a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (such as a velociraptor or deinonychus)
Dictionary definition:
raptor
/ˈraptə/
noun
1.
a bird of prey, e.g. an eagle or hawk.
2.
INFORMAL
a dromaeosaurid dinosaur, especially a velociraptor or utahraptor.
Definitions from Oxford Languages

Image Credits :Raptors (Ancient Eagles with Teeth). The Dinosaur Book - by DK (pg.130-131).

Alamy Stock Photo: Stocktrek Images, Inc.. www.dkimages.com

Bald Eagle. The impressive power of this bird is amazing. Ingo Doerrie. https://unsplash.com/photos/TQWAmOShbEM

Dinosaurs referred to as Raptors

Image Credit:

3D rendering of two Dakotaraptors skirmishing at night in Hell Creek 66 million years ago.

Herschel Hoffmeyer. shutterstock_711094489

Prehistoric Taxonomy (Dromaeosaurid Family)

Dromaeosaurus (/ˌdroʊmiəˈsɔːrəs, -mioʊ-/ meaning "running lizard") is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur which lived during the Late Cretaceous period (middle late Campanian), sometime between 80 and 69 million years ago. Dromaeosaurid relatives include the Dakotaraptor. Dromaeosaurus was heavily built, more so than other dromaeosaurs that are similar in size, like Velociraptor

Size of Utahraptor compared with other dromaeosaurs

Image Credit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahraptor#/media/File:Dromaeosaurs.png. CC BY-SA 4.0

    

Image Source: Velociraptor | Velociraptor Facts | DK Find Out

Image Credit: Mounted V. mongoliensis cast at Wyoming Dinosaur Center

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velociraptor#/media/File:Velociraptor_Wyoming_Dinosaur_Center.jpg

148 Wyoming Dinosaur Center CC BY 2.0 File:Velocir

Reptiles or Birds? or Both?

Image Credit: The Outsider Published: Sep 8, 2017 by Herschel-Hoffmeyer

Image Credit: Apex: Minion - Deinonychus Published: Nov 14, 2014 by Herschel-Hoffmeyer

These dinosaurs’ bodies had thin filaments on it and their tails and forearms had feathers, something which gave these dinosaurs a striking resemblance to modern-day birds. But there is one thing that these dinosaurs couldn’t do which modern birds are literally known for flying. Although these dinosaurs had all the features of living birds, they were actually flightless. But velociraptor made up for this by running on their two legs effectively. As a matter of fact, they are identified as fierce predators by scientists who hunted their prey on these two legs. But if you notice carefully, you can clearly see that this feature of a velociraptor is also rather bird-like. We’ve all seen birds spending more time walking than flying, haven’t we? Very few birds catch their prey while flying. Since these dinosaurs are so famous around the world, there is usually a high demand for their fossils. Those who’re interested in purchasing these famous velociraptor raptor dinosaur teeth can get them at great prices on Buried Treasure Fossils.

The Dakotaraptor is the next dinosaur model in the works and it doesn't matter which you like better, both options are included! If your the crafty type,

you can even make your own feather display for the model.

Image Credit: .Pick your Poison Published: Sep 7, 2017 by Herschel-Hoffmeyer

Check out this amazing artists online portfolio: www.deviantart.com/herschel-hoffmeyer

Killing Machines! Group Hunters?

Image Credit: Left hind foot of Deinonychus antirrhopus. Image from Wikipedia

Image Credit: Tyrannosaurus vs Dakotaraptor Published: Sep 4, 2017 by Herschel-Hoffmeyer

https://www.deviantart.com/herschel-hoffmeyer/art/Tyrannosaurus-vs-Dakotaraptor-702608769

My first dig was excavating raptors near Bridger, Montana, in 1964. I was a freshman. Grant Meyer was the Field Boss – a fine fellow with delicacy of touch that was surprising in such a hulking physique. Grant is the guy who really started “Jurassic Park.” It was Grant Meyer who found the raptor Deinonychus, four of them, their bones intermingled in a thin layer of dark gray clay-stone. He directed us kids in extracting the bones. Back at Yale, another undergrad, Peter Parks, cleaned the rock off the bones. Professor John Ostrom named the beast “Terrible Claw” – Deinonychus. I prepared the first restoration and the temporary exhibit.

At this stage in our investigation…when we look at all the clues from the mud, current velocity, lack of babies, lack of other species. Group hunting by adult Deinonychus Raptors is a viable hypothesis. It’s not the only hypothesis but still, I think, the strongest one.

Info by Bob Bakker The Museum’s Curator of Paleontology, world-renowned Dr. Robert T. Bakker (or, as some call him, Bob) is the leader of the handful of iconoclastic paleontologists who rewrote the book on dinosaurs three decades ago. Along with other noted paleontologists, Bakker has changed the image of dinosaurs from slow-moving, slow-witted, cold-blooded creatures to — at least in some cases — warm-blooded giants well-equipped to dominate the Earth for 200 million years. Dr. Bakker can be found all over the globe, notably leading the Museum’s paleontology field program.

Utaraptor attacking small Iguanodon (Walking with Dinosaurs)

Scenes from Walking with Dinosaurs TV Mini Series 1999.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the content in this video. All rights reserved to rightful owners.

References, bibliography & further reading:

Source: https://blog.hmns.org/2010/03/raptors-group-hunters-or-cannibals/

https://www.buriedtreasurefossils.com/blog/post/velociraptor-were-birds-but-not-exactly-birds-read-on-to-find-out-why

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