Utahraptor

Feathered and social

Utahraptor, a distant cousin of Velociraptor, prowled the plains of Utah 130 million years ago. Feathered and social, this dinosaur was likely encountered not as a solitary individual but as part of a group. Unlike other raptors, Utahraptor was more robust than slender, resembling larger predators such as Tyrannosaurus or Allosaurus. With its specialized and sharp claws, it was capable of tearing apart almost anything it came near. Its feeding method was similar to that of Tyrannosaurus and Allosaurus, employing a gripping-and-ripping technique. Utahraptor would grasp its prey with its teeth and then sling its head backward, allowing the sharp, backward-curved teeth to do the work.

Size
Over 6 meters long

Weight
Over 300 kilograms

Period
Early Cretaceous period, 130-125 million years ago

Diet
Carnivorous

Discovery sites
Utah