Pyroraptor

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Pyroraptor Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Illustration by Jordan Mallon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Saurischia Suborder: Theropoda Family: Dromaeosauridae Genus: Pyroraptor Allain & Taquet, 2000
Species
P. olympius Allain & Taquet, 2000 (type)

Pyroraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of France (70 million years ago). It is known from a single specimen, estimated to have been 2.5 metres (8 feet) in length.

Contents 1 Discoveries 2 In popular culture 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Discoveries

Pyroraptor was a dromaeosaur, a small, bird-like predatory theropod that possessed enlarged curved, slashing claws on the second toe of each foot. Each of these claws were 6.5 centimeters (2.5 in) long. The first and only identified specimen was found in the south of France, in Provence, and is known only from a few bones, named Pyroraptor olympius by Allain and Taquet in 2000.^[1] The name means "Olympic fire thief", because its remains were discovered after a forest fire. The type specimen consists of the distinctive foot claws, as well as fossilized teeth, arm and back bones. It lived during the Cretaceous, 70 million years ago.

[edit] In popular culture

• Pyroraptor was featured in one episode of the television program Dinosaur Planet, in which an individual Pyroraptor named "Pod" is swept onto an island dominated by dwarf members of familiar dinosaur families.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pyroraptor official site, in French
• Pyroraptor computer animation, by Meteor Studios for Discovery Channel
• Pyroraptor computer animation stills by Meteor Studios for Discovery Channel
• Pyroraptor illustration by Brett Booth