Episode 293 is all about Atrociraptor, a raptor about the size of Dromaeosaurus, but more closely related to its distant ancestor Deinonychus.
We also interview Evan Johnson-Ransom, Master’s student & McNair Fellow studying under Eric Snively at Vertebrate Paleontology Research Labs at Oklahoma State University. Currently his research is focused on Tyrannosaurs. Follow him on twitter @EJR_Paleo
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In this episode, we discuss:
News:
- A new dromaeosaurid jaw piece from Alaska points to year round polar carnivores source
- A new sauropodomorph from northern Switzerland named Schleitheimia source
- SVP will be held virtually this year source
- Screenrant shared why Batman has a dinosaur in his cave source
- The Plant Riverside District is having a contest to name its Amphicoelias fraggillimus replica source
- Google recently launched augmented reality dinosaurs in their search source
The dinosaur of the day: Atrociraptor
- Dromaeosaurid theropod that lived in the Late Cretaceous in what is now Alberta, Canada (Horseshoe Canyon Formation)
- Closely related to Deinonychus
- May have had feathers
- Probably about the same size as Dromaeosaurus
- It lived after Dromaeosaurus, possibly even alongside Dakotaraptor
- Estimated to be to 6.5 ft (2 m) long, and weigh 33 lb (15 kg)
- Skull was about 6.7 in (17 cm) long
- Had a short, tall skull (short, deep snout)
- Carnivorous, teeth had large serrations
- Teeth are isodont: They are all about the same size
- The holotype has a maxilla (upper jaw) with an excellent set of teeth—no noticeable gaps
- Type and only species is Atrociraptor marshalli
- Discovered in 1995 by Wayne Marshall
- Found parts of the upper and lower jaws, including teeth
- Teeth found in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation previously thought to belong to Saurornitholestes now thought to be Atrociraptor, because the teeth were so distinct
- Named in 2004 by Philip Currie and David Varricchio
- Genus name means “savage robber”
- Species name in honor of Marshall
- Found about 3 mi (5 km) from Royal Tyrrell Museum
- Fossils are housed at the Royal Tyrrell Museum
Fun Fact: Arthropods (like insects) were never large dinosaur sizes.