Colossal Raptor Dinosaur Possessed Legs that Surpassed your Height

The raptors depicted in the Jurassic Park films were already fearsome at six feet tall, but now researchers have identified a colossal new raptor species with legs towering to that same height.

Raptors constituted a varied array of dinosaurs resembling the iconic movie creatures, albeit varying in size. They shared a common body structure, featuring a robust snout brimming with formidable teeth and elongated, avian-like legs culminating in the distinctive, curved claw on a single toe. Paradoxically, they likely exhibited more flamboyance than portrayed in Hollywood, with prevailing beliefs suggesting that the majority, if not all, raptor species boasted feathered coverings.

Discovery of Fujianipus yingliangi

Recently, researchers have unveiled a previously unidentified raptor species, and it happens to be one of the largest. Dubbed Fujianipus yingliangi, it derives its name from the Fujian province in China, its place of discovery. Researchers estimate that this newly discovered dinosaur measured approximately 5 meters (16.4 feet) in length and stood at a hip height of 1.8 meters (6 feet), potentially even taller in actuality. Essentially, envision a towering Big Bird equipped with a slashing talon and an aggressive temperament, and you’re likely not far from the mark.

This implies that Fujianipus would have surpassed the height of most humans (except perhaps Shaq) and the Velociraptors depicted in Jurassic Park. It’s crucial to highlight that the movie depictions exaggerate the size of Velociraptors. Real Velociraptors, approximately the size of turkeys, would have been insignificant compared to Fujianipus. Discovering Fujianipus earlier could have led to a more accurate portrayal in movies, reducing the need for fictional embellishment.

Uncovering Preserved Dinosaur Footprints

In 2020, an international team of scientists stumbled upon the initial clue of the colossal predator when they unearthed a complex arrangement of fossilized dinosaur tracks in China. This discovery featured over 240 footprints from various dinosaur species, including the familiar lineup of giants: massive sauropods with long necks, plant-eating ornithopods, and the carnivorous theropods known for their bipedal stance.

Among these tracks, the researchers were particularly intrigued by a distinct set of two-toed footprints attributed to raptors. Why only two toes? As depicted in movies, the third toe is where they harbor their lethal curved claw, purposely kept elevated to maintain its sharpness and readiness for potential disembowelment.

The tracks discovered were notably larger than most documented raptor tracks, measuring approximately 36 cm (14 in) in length, surpassing the size of similar tracks from known species by more than threefold. Based on this, the research team was able to estimate the immense size of the creature responsible for these tracks.

As these tracks did not correspond to any known dinosaur species, the researchers proposed the designation of a new species, Fujianipus yingliangi. This classification falls under the category of “ichnospecies,” identified not from physical remains such as bones but from other evidence like footprints. It is hoped that future discoveries might yield skeletal remains, allowing for a better understanding of these creatures and potentially securing them a more accurate portrayal in future cinematic endeavors.

Read the Original Article on: New Atlas

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