Rapator

Taxobox
name = "Rapator"
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
ordo = Saurischia
subordo = Theropoda
unranked_familia = Coelurosauria
genus = "Rapator"
genus_authority = Huene, 1932
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
*"R. ornitholestoides" Huene, 1932 (type)

"Rapator" (meaning "plunderer") is a genus of theropod dinosaur from Australia. It lived during the Early Cretaceous and grew to as much as 9 meters (30 ft) in length. It was originally named by Friedrich von Huene in 1932, and its discovery is based on his discovery of a single bone.Huene, F. (1932). "Die fossile Reptil-Ordnung Saurischia, ihre Entwicklung und Geschichte." "Monogo. Geol. Pal." 4 (1) pts. 1 and 2, viii + 361 pp.] Originally thought to be a bone from the upper part of an indeterminate theropod hand (specifically metacarpal I), it was later noted that the bone is similar to the finger bone of an alvarezsaur.Holtz, Molnar, and Currie (2004). "Basal Tetanurae." In Weishampel, Dodson and Osmolska (eds.), "The Dinosauria Second Edition." University of California Press. 861 pp.] However, later study showed that it is more likely a primitive coelurosaurian similar to "Nqwebasaurus".Salisbury, Agnolin, Ezcurra, and Pias (2007). "A critical reassessment of the Cretaceous non-avian dinosaur faunas of Australia and New Zealand." "Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology", 27(3): 138A.]

References

External links

* [http://home.comcast.net/~eoraptor/Ornithomimosauria.htm#Rapatorornitholestoides "Rapator" in The Theropod Database]