Megaraptor

*Megaraptor namunhuaiquii*

***Megaraptor*** ("giant thief") is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived in the Coniacian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Its fossils have been discovered in the Patagonian region of Argentina. Initially thought to have been a giant dromaeosaur-like coelurosaur, it has classified as a neovenatorid allosauroid or tyrannosauroid coelurosaur.

## General Information

***Megaraptor*** was a large theropod of the Cretaceous Period, 84 to 65 mya.It's most distinguishing feature was on each hand had a 14 inch (35 centimeters) sickle-like claw on it's thumb and the other fingers had smaller claws. When alive, this claw would have been sheathed in a horny, keratinous material much like our fingernails, making the claw even bigger, longer and sharper. The tail was probably used for balance and fast turning. It may have had a relatively large brain and large eyes. *Megaraptor* was about 25–26 feet (7.5–8 meters) long. In 2010, Gregory S. Paul estimated its length at 8 metres (26 ft), its weight at 1 tonne (2,200 lb).[5] Initially, *Megaraptor* was generally titled to be the biggest dromaeosaur, and it has been historically considered a spinosaurid, a carcharodontosaurid related to *Neovenator*, or a coelurosaur, possibly even a tyrannosauroid. The most widely accepted placements are as a basal coelurosaur or a relative of *Neovenator*. But recent studies claim Megaraptor might a tyrannosauroid; however the recent estimates deny this claim and show the animal's linage closer to a basal coelurosaur.

## Discovery

Incomplete *Megaraptor* remains were found in 1996 in Northwest Patagonia, Argentina, by paleontologist Fernando E. Novas. Novas named it in 1998 (when it was still thought to be a raptor, hence the name). Fossils included a huge sickle-shaped claw, metatarsal, ulna, and a finger bone. [1]

## History

Discovered in 1997 in Argentina, *Megaraptor* was found associated with the fossil remains of *Unenlagia*, a bird-like dinosaur. There is some speculation that *Megaraptor* was the adult version of *Unenlagia*, which is known from an apparently juvenile specimen. Remains of a specimen similar to those of the *Megaraptor* have also recently been found in China and await study. [2]

## Description

*Megaraptor* was initially described as a giant dromaeosaur, known primarily from a single claw (about 30 cm long) that resembled the sickle-shaped foot claw of dromaeosaurids.[1] The discovery of a complete front limb, however, showed that this giant claw actually came from the first finger of the hand. The hands were unusually elongated, bearing sickle-shaped claws even more recurved than those of spinosaurids.

## Classification

The hand is quite distinct from other basal tetanurans, so it was not initially clear whether *Megaraptor* was an allosaurid, a carcharodontosaurid, a spinosauroid, or something else entirely. Subsequent studies, as well as the identification of close relatives with similar large claws on the forelimbs (see below), helped identify *Megaraptor* as a highly advanced and lightly built allosauroid, and a member of the family Neovenatoridae. Recently, another study has proposed that *Megaraptor* and its kin are actually tyrannosauroids or spinosauroids as opposed to allosauroids.

When first discovered and prior to publication, the spinosaurid *Baryonyx* was also reported to be a dromaeosaurid, and the allosauroid *Chilantaisaurus* was reported to be a possible spinosaurid, both based on the large hand claws.

The cladogram presented here follows the 2010 analysis by Benson, Carrano and Brusatte.

## JPInstitute.com Description

If this monster was everything scientists think it was, it could have been the most vicious predator ever. Megaraptor was like a giant Velociraptor, larger even than Utahraptor, that had a killing claw over 14 inches (36 cm) long! Add to that its sharp teeth, long powerful arms and hands with huge claws and you have one fierce animal. The trouble is, very little of this dinosaur has been found, and it is a very recent discovery, so it may be some time before we know for certain what it really looked like.

Discovered in 1997 in Argentina, Megaraptor was found associated with the fossil remains of Unenlagia, a bird-like dinosaur. There is some speculation that Megaraptor was the adult version of Unenlagia, which is known from an apparently juvenile specimen. Remains of a specimen similar to those of the Megaraptor have also recently been found in China and await study.

## Appearance in other media

### *Jurassic Park*

* Megaraptor appeared in the video game *Warpath: Jurassic Park*.

## Links

http://web.archive.org/web/20040214075313fw\_/http://www.jpinstitute.com/dinopedia/dinocards/dc\_megar.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20080724020534/http://kids.yahoo.com/dinosaurs/112--Megaraptor

## References

1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `bensonetal2010`
2. ↑ Template:Cite doi