Build & Characteristics
- The largest described specimens are estimated to have reached up to 23 feet long and between 1,000 to 2,000 pounds.
- These were by far the largest raptors being 1200 to 1500 pounds heavier than the much smaller Velociraptor.
- Utahraptor had a large, curved “killing claw” that was covered with a sheath of keratin. This claw could have reached 9.4 inches long or more. These claws helped them to slash and attack their prey.
History
- According to fossil remains found in central Utah, the Utahraptor was the alpha predator of the Early Cretaceous approximately 124 million years ago.
- Lived approximately 25 to 30 million years before Deinonychus and Velociraptor.
Discovery
- The first Utahraptor specimens were found in 1975 by Jim Jensen.
- Utahraptor can be seen at The Past Worlds Galleryat the Natural History Museum of Utah.
- The Utahraptor is very similar to the velociraptor but significantly larger as well as being twice the size of Deinonychus. They are the world’s biggest raptor found to date. Most raptors weighed 200 lbs. while Utahraptors have been estimated between 1,000 to 2,000 lbs. The Utahraptor also came before the other raptors in its family.
- The distinguishing feature of raptors are there large claw on their feet. The Utahraptor’s was almost a foot long.