Raptors! These theropods are now a synonym to Jurassic Park, due to the extreme success
the movie got, with good help from these lethal critters.
Besides troodontids, these were among the most intelligent of all known
dinosaurs, and allso the closest to birds (In Microraptor there was even found feather
impressions).
Dromaeosaurids lived mainly in North America and Asia, but there are species known from South America
and Europe as well.
They lived to the end of Cretaceous, and were normally 2-3 metres long. Only Achillobator,
Utahraptor and Megaraptor exceeds that size with their 5, 6 and 8 metres of lenght.
The feet of the Dromaeosaurids is probably what theyre best known for; the inner toe was fit
with a big, curved claw, that was held upright all the time, for not to damage it to the ground
and thus keeping it sharp and fit for fight. During an attack (wich was probably done in well organized
pack attacks) they would use their hands to hang on to the prey, and their foot claw to slice open
the victim. Rests after Tenontosaurus has been found among
the rests of Deinonychus, indicating their diet.
A Velociraptor was found tangled up with a
Protoceratops, in the same position they were, as they were killing each other.
Here's a list of all dinosaur genera ending with -raptor
and an indication of which of them is a Dromaeosaur.
Araucanoraptor
Archaeoraptor
"Austroraptor"
Bambiraptor (dromaeosaurian)
Brontoraptor
Conchoraptor
Eoraptor
Fukuiraptor
Megaraptor (dromaeosaurian)
Microraptor (dromaeosaurian)
Oviraptor
Ovoraptor
Ozraptor
Pyroraptor (dromaeosaurian)
Sinraptor
Utahraptor (dromaeosaurian)
Valdoraptor
Variraptor (dromaeosaurian)
Velociraptor (dromaeosaurian)
Wyomingraptor
