Pyroraptor
carnivoreLate Cretaceous (70 Ma)
PALAEONTOLOGICAL RECORD
Pyroraptor is an extinct genus of paravian dinosaur, probably a dromaeosaurid or unenlagiid, from the Late Cretaceous Ibero-Armorican island, of what is now southern France. It lived during the late Campanian and early Maastrichtian stages, approximately 72 million years ago. It is known from a single partial specimen that was found in Provence in 1992, after a forest fire. The animal was named Pyroraptor olympius by Allain and Taquet in 2000.
DISCOVERY
Found in Provence, France, after a forest fire in 1992.
DIETARY PROFILE
Opportunistic small pack hunter.
NOTABLE PALAEONTOLOGY FACTS
- Its name translates directly as 'fire thief', inspired by its discovery area recovering from a wildfire.
- As a Dromaeosaur, it possessed the distinct 'killing claw' characteristic of the raptor family.
HOLLYWOOD INACCURACIES
- Shown as fully feathered, which is good.
- Swimming in freezing sub-zero conditions is highly improbable for this species.
SCIENTIFIC DEPICTION
PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS
ESTIMATED LENGTH
Fossil Record2.5 meters
InGen Clone3.5 meters
ESTIMATED WEIGHT
Fossil Record30 kg
InGen Clone60 kg
Accuracy Rating
FICTIONAL