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ZoomDinosaurs.com
Dinosaur and Paleontology Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Click on an underlined word for more information on that subject.
If the dinosaur or paleontology term you are looking for is not in the dictionary, please e-mail us.

DROMAEOSAURIDS
"Raptors"

Dromaeosaurids or Dromaeosauridae (meaning "swift lizards") are a subgroup of the group Coelurosauria and of the theropods. These dinosaurs were intelligent, small, large-eyed, fast, bipedal, efficient killers that were closely related to birds.

These killer dinosaurs had large, sickle-shaped claws on the middle toe of each foot, capable of slashing prey. They may have hunted in packs, killing even large sauropods. They were the most intelligent group of dinosaurs.

Dromaeosaurid fossils have been found in North America, South America, and Asia. Dromaeosaurs lived from the early to late Cretaceous period. Adasaurus, Dromaeosaurus, Deinonychus, Utahraptor, Elopteryx, Saurornitholestes, and Velociraptor are examples of dromaeosaurids.

A recent Chinese fossil revealed what is perhaps downy feathers on a new dromaeosaurid, Sinornithosaurus.

Dromaeosaur When it Lived
(Millions of Years Ago)
Size
Achillobator 86-71 mya 16 ft (5 m)
Utahraptor 125 mya 20 ft (6.5 m)
Sinornithosaurus 124 mya 6 ft (1.8 m)
Deinonychus 119-93 mya 10 ft (3 m)
Velociraptor 85-80 mya 6 ft (1.8 m)
Adasaurus 80-73 mya 6 ft (1.8 m)
Dromaeosaurus 76-72 mya 6 ft (1.8 m)
Saurornitholestes 76-73 mya 6 ft (1.8 m)

The following are Dromaeosaurids:
Click on a dinosaur for an information sheet about the dinosaur. Pictures are not to scale.
Dromaeosaurids (very dangerous, smart dinosaurs - the "raptors")


ADASAURUS

80-73 million years ago


DEINONYCHUS

110-100 million years ago


DROMAEOSAURUS

76-72 million years ago


ELOPTERYX

76-72 million years ago


SAURORNITHOLESTES

76-73 million years ago


SINORNITHOSAURUS

124 million years ago


UTAHRAPTOR

125 million years ago


VELOCIRAPTOR

85-80 million years ago


INTELLIGENCE
The dromaeosaurids' intelligence (as measured by their relative brain to body weight, or EQ) was the highest among the dinosaurs.

EQ


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