# Utahraptor (*Utahraptor ostrommaysorum*)

Utahraptor was a prehistoric dinosaur known for its distinctive features. Scientists study its bones to learn about how dinosaurs lived.

- **Category:** [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/ancient)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mesozoic forests and floodplains

![Utahraptor](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424350/objects/5766.jpg)

## Appearance

The Utahraptor is a large, powerfully built dromaeosaurid, typically depicted with earthy tones like brown or grey, possibly patterned. It has a robust body, long arms, and a distinctive, enormous sickle claw on each foot's second toe, which makes it visually different from many other dinosaurs.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Fossils show it had feathers, making it a distant relative to modern birds!
- It shared its ancient world with giant sauropods and heavily armored dinosaurs!
- Its massive 24 cm sickle claws were like giant meat hooks on its feet!
- Utahraptor was the biggest 'raptor' dinosaur, much larger than tiny Velociraptor!

## Special abilities

- **Deadly Kick:** Utahraptor can deliver devastating kicks using huge sickle claws on its feet that help them disembowel prey.
- **Lightning Speed:** Utahraptor has powerful legs and a stiff tail that helps them run incredibly fast to chase down prey.
- **Feathered Warmth:** Utahraptor likely had a coat of feathers that kept it warm and helped it blend into its environment.
- **Teamwork Tactics:** Utahraptor likely hunted in cunning groups, using intelligence to take down much larger prey.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 5-7 m
- **Weight:** 300-500 kg
- **Era:** Early Cretaceous Period
- **Extinct Millions Years Ago:** 125

## Diet & Feeding

A ferocious carnivore that hunted other dinosaurs, possibly in packs.

- **Primary Foods:** Gastonia, Hippodraco, Other medium-sized dinosaurs
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** Gastonia (*Gastonia burgei*) — A heavily armored ankylosaur prey.
- **Hunts:** Hippodraco (*Hippodraco scutodens*) — A plant-eating iguanodontid dinosaur.
- **Hunts:** Nedcolbertia (*Nedcolbertia justinhofmanni*) — A smaller, swift ornithomimosaur.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Artifact](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/artifact): An artifact is an object made or modified by human culture, typically of historical or archaeological interest.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.

## Collections

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/ancient)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

While extremely dangerous in their time, this creature is now extinct.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Utahraptor?

Compare skull shape, horns, plates, limbs, posture and tail. Museum models and toys can mix features or follow outdated reconstructions. Dinosaur Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Utahraptor?

5-7 m

### How much does Utahraptor weigh?

300-500 kg

### What does Utahraptor eat?

A ferocious carnivore that hunted other dinosaurs, possibly in packs.

### Where is Utahraptor usually found?

Mesozoic forests and floodplains

### How does Utahraptor hunt?

Ambush

### What geologic era did Utahraptor live in?

Early Cretaceous Period

### When did Utahraptor go extinct?

125

## More Ancient

- [Tyrannosaurus rex](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tyrannosaurus-rex) (*Tyrannosaurus rex*)
- [Triceratops](https://www.snappit.app/explore/triceratops) (*Triceratops horridus*)
- [Stegosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stegosaurus) (*Stegosaurus stenops*)
- [Brachiosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brachiosaurus) (*Brachiosaurus altithorax*)

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Source: [Utahraptor: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/utahraptor)