Fukuiraptor

Fukuiraptor was a medium-sized carnivorous dinosaur that inhabited Japan during the Early Cretaceous period. Known from partial skeletons found in Fukui Prefecture, the holotype specimen belonged to an immature animal, with adults thought to measure up to five metres in length. When first excavated, a prominent curved claw was believed to be a raptorial foot claw similar to that of Velociraptor, but further anatomical study showed it was actually an enlarged thumb claw. Today, palaeontologists generally classify Fukuiraptor as a basal megaraptoran, an enigmatic group of predators characterised by lightly built skulls and powerful, clawed arms. Fukuiraptor was likely an agile hunter, using its grasping claws and serrated teeth to tackle smaller ornithopods and juvenile dinosaurs in ancient fluvial forests. Its discovery highlighted Japan as an important region for dinosaur evolution.

Its enormous hand claw was originally mistaken for a sickle foot claw like that of a dromaeosaur.

Where and when

Fukuiraptor lived in the Early Cretaceous, from 121.4 to 113 million years ago (Aptian age). Its remains come from Japan, in the Kitadani Formation.

The numbers

Length 4.6 m (estimates run from 4.2 to 5 m). Mass about 230 kg. Hip height about 1.4 m. That is 2.7 human-lengths, or 0.41 of a double-decker bus. These are estimates from partial skeleton; fields marked estimated by the site are length, mass, first ma, last ma, hip height.

Compare Fukuiraptor with a bus Place on the timeline