Dinosaur Facts: Utahraptor Facts
The velociraptors along with the T-Rex are undoubtedly the star of the Jurassic park and world franchises, but not many people know there were bigger raptors out there than the velociraptors. One of these was the utahraptor, a massive predator about 80 million years before velociraptor ever evolved, never mind made it to a cinema! We take a look at some Utahraptor facts below.
Utahraptor is a lesser-known member of the raptor family. (dromaeosaur). It was potentially the biggest raptor ever to live. Size estimates range from 15-19 feet long, and 500 to 1100 lbs with a 9–15-inch toe claw. It was double the size of Deinonychus and multiple times bigger than the more famous velociraptor.
In fact, as you are no doubt aware by now, the velociraptor in the movies is somewhat over sized and more closely resembles a Deinonychus, and the focus of this page is a raptor that was over 2 times as big as deinonychus was! Even if it didn’t have such a scary name. ( Deinonychus means (terrible claw) Whereas utah raptors claw was double the size…. now that’s a terrible claw!!
We have fast facts directly below if you are in a hurry, and below those the main answers and facts about the Utahraptor.
So let’s jump into our Utahraptor facts before the other three steal this limelight as well!
Utahraptor Quick Facts
- Utahraptor is one of the largest know raptors (dromaeosaurids) and could grow to over 18 feet tall
- It could be up to 660 lbs (300 kg) in weight although this ranges from 500 to 1100 lbs!
- It is thought that the Utahraptor would have been about 1.5 metres tall and the hips, which is about 5 feet tall, and with its head raised up to 7 ft or even 8 feet tall.
- Being bigger than other raptors it is thought that Utah Raptor would have ben able to take down larder prey like camptosaurus and dryosaurus,
- It is likely that the Utahraptor had feathers, as all of the raptor family including the much much older microraptor already had evolved them.
- utahraptor was the largest proper raptor at 18 ft long and up to 1100 lbs, there were two close to it in size but at the moment they are considered smaller, the achillobator and the dakotaraptor,
- Utahraptor is a nice easy dinosaur name to say. it has 4 syllables and is said like this. You- Tar -Rap – Tor
How big was the Utahraptor ?
Utahraptor is one of the largest know raptors (dromaeosaurids) and could grow to over 18 feet tall and be up to 660 lbs (300 kg) in weight. This makes it two times the length of one of its relatives, and the dinosaur that the jurassic park velociraptors were based on, Deinonychus.
Just like other raptors it has the famous and distinctive curved claw on its feet, and unlike the velociraptors 5-6 cm claw the claw of the utahraptor could grow up to 9 inches long ( 22 cm)
it has been estimated to be bigger than the size mentioned above, at up to 23 ft long and 1000 lbs. which if accurate is the same weight as a grizzly bear.
How heavy was the Utahraptor ?
The weight of Utahraptor varies a little from a low of 500 lbs to a high of 1100 lbs, and this has been suggested that the different fossils that were found were from different age Utahraptor, some younger than others and this would account for their different sizes.
How long was the Utahraptor ?
the Utahraptor as mentioned above, has different estimates on its length due to different ages of fossils being found. The length estimates of Utahraptor range from 15ft long (4 metres) to 23 ft long (7 metres)
How tall was the Utahraptor ?
It is thought that the Utahraptor would have been about 1.5 metres tall and the hips, which is about 5 feet tall, and with its head raised up to 7 ft or even 8 feet tall. Much taller than the average person. it was likely the tallest raptor with only the Dakotaraptor and achillobator coming close in height, weight and length to it.
How Big was the Utahraptor Head?
Estimates for the head of the utahraptor are approximately 2 feet long with a flexible mouth that was full of teeth. However it also had the 8 to 9 inch claw (15 inches when alive) on is second toe, and its hand claws were better developed and likely used to slashing and cutting as well.
it was a very well armed ( ha!) dinosaur.
Did Utahraptor have feathers?
It is likely that the Utahraptor had feathers, as all of the raptor family including the much much older microraptor already had evolved them. In fact wikipedia states that that with so many domaeosaurur fossils and dinsaours havinng feathers the proof is actually not to prove that Utahraptors did have feathers, but actually to prove it did not!
There have also been feather, or evidence of feather found on dakotaraptor which shows that size did make a different and even large raptors would have had feathers as well.
However, as of yet, feathers have not been found on Utahraptor fossils, it’s just that it almost certainly did have them.
What was Utahraptor Habitat?
Utahraptor lived 130 to 125 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous in an area that is now Colorado and UTah. At the time it a habitat that was fairly wet and humid for at least some of the year and dry for others. Like the african plains, there were forest and ferns around as well. It was considered semi arid so would have had regular dry spells, but there were rivers and forests as well.
What Dinosaurs Did Utahraptor eat?
Being bigger than other raptors it is thought that Utah Raptor would have ben able to take down larder prey like camptosaurus and dryosaurus, and maybe even smaller sauropods (long neck dinosaurs) especially if their pack hunting behaviour can be proved. It is also thought it could use its claws as weapons and not just grasping tool, giving it a formidable set of weapons!
What dinosaurs did Utahraptor live with?
It may be that utahraptor lived in packs with other sof its kind, however this is currently a theory based on a find of 7-12 raptor fossils all toghether of different ages with a prey animal.
It terms of other species of dinosaur that tuah raptor may have lived with it was not too far from where dakotaraptor has been found and fossils of mesoeucrocodylia crocodile skull has been found ( a privative crocodile) as well as Hippodraco, cedrorestes and gastonia, and cedarosaurus which was a large sauropod.
What Dinosaurs Were Utahraptor related to?
Relatives of Utahraptor include other raptors like achillobator dakotaraptor, velociraptor and even the small microraptor from 20 million years before. However so far utahraptor is considered the biggest of all the raptors.
Did Utahraptor live in packs.
While it is just theory there are scientists who believe that utahraptor did live in family groups, at least for a while. As we mention above this is based on the discovery of a group of utahraptors close to a iguanodon herbivore. it may have been stuck in quicksand or a pit or similar and the Utahraptors went into to get a meal but could not get out. However it is unclear if they did this together or its happened one by one.
NOTE: It was thought that deinonychus was also a pack animal but discovering that juveniles and adults’ would likely have had different food sources it is now thought that if they did live together it was not long term.
How Fast Could the Utahraptor Run?
While we have no real way of knowing for sure the speed of dinosaurs we can estimate based on bone structure and likely weight of dinosaurs. Utahraptor was considerably bigger than most other raptors, and would have therefore been slower, likely around 20 miles an hour as a maximum.
fast enough to ambush and catch its prey though!
Was Utahraptor the Largest raptor?
utahraptor was the largest proper raptor at 18 ft long and up to 1100 lbs, there were two close to it in size but at the moment they are considered smaller, the achillobator and the dakotaraptor, other raptors like velociraptor, atrociraptor were much smaller.
However, a raptor in name, but a really a raptor as it belonged to a different type of dinosaur species was the Gigantoraptor could grow up to 29 ft long and which upto 5000 lbs in weight. However It was a member of the oviraptorosaur family not the dromaeosaur family which is where true raptors belong.
What Movies Have Featured a Utahraptor ?
We could not find any movies that have featured a utahraptor in them, although some games do. There is also a novel based on the utahraptor called “Raptor Red” that has received good reviews. you can check this out here if you wish.
When Did the Utahraptor become Extinct?
The earliest fossils so far of Utahraptor date to 10 million years ago and it is thought to have lived between 135 to 130 million years ago. It may have been around a little earlier but fossils discovered so far don’t prove this yet.
Could the Utahraptor Swim?
Even though the environment the Utah lived in was thought to be semi arid, there were river system, forests and wetlands. However it is not thought that the utahraptor was a proficient swimmer, unlike the swimming pyroraptor in Jurassic World!, and although it would have some swimming agility it wouldn’t be spending much time in water.
What does the name Utahraptor Mean?
Utahraptor is named after the state UTAH and literally means “Utah thief, or Utah Plunderer.” It has been taken to mean raptor from Utah colloquially though.
We have coloring pages to download from the below link ( click the picture)
Was Utahraptor the Largest carnivorous Dinosaur?
While Utah raptor was not the largest carnivorous dinosaur it is considered to be the largest raptor ever found. Considerably bigger than other “famous”raptors like Velociraptor, pyroraptor and atrociraptor and bigger than its close competitors dakotaraptor and achillobator
How many Teeth Did Utahraptor have?
We actually counted in a fossil Utahraptor to get this answer, there are over 50 teeth in an Utahraptors jaws. these teeth range in size from 2 inches maximum to 1 inch long, and are sharp and serrated. it would have used these and its huge claws on both its hands and feet to catch and kill its prey.
Where were Utahraptor Fossils discovered?
Utahraptor fossils were first found in Utah ( hence the name) and were in a quarry near Moab ( the town not the bomb!) this was in 1975, and since them more have been found including in 1991 when a foot claw was found and sparked interest. Mainly as it was much bigger than any other raptor claw found.
When did Utahraptor Live?
Utahraptor lived during the Early Cretaceous around 135 to 130 million years ago, alongside other dinosaurs like Gastonia, and Cedarosaurus which was a large sauropod.
Did Utahraptor have Small arms
Utah raptor was well equipped for its role as a carnivore dinosaur. not only did it have 50 plus teeth in its jaws, and a curved sharp claw over 15 inches long on its second toe it all have long arms and claws to take down its prey. its arms were about feet long and armed with fierce looking sharp claws.
When was Utahraptor first Discovered?
Utahraptor is a relatively new addition to the fossil record. It was first discovered in 1975 by Jim Jensen but pretty much ignored until 1993 when more fossils were discovered including the now famous long claw of the utahraptor.
Who named the Utahraptor ?
Utahraptor was named by Kirkland in 1993, after being found in Utah near the town of Moab.
How to Pronounce Utahraptor ?
Utahraptor is a nice easy dinosaur name to say. it has 4 syllables and is said like this. You- Tar -Rap – Tor
You – tar – Rap – Tor
Conclusion
Utahraptor is a often over looked dinosaurs in favour of its more favoured cousins the velociraptor and nwo the atrociraptor, however both of these while certainly scary if you were to meet them, were not the 9 ft long dinosaurs full of teeth and attitude you see in the Jurassic World movies, they were turkey sized.
Now scale that up to some thing bigger, longer and the same weight as a grizzly bear with bigger claws, bigger teeth ( well maybe) and the same weight and you have a Utahraptor. Much more scary, and much more likely to consider people as prey if it ever made it to a cinema near you.
However as cool as it was, it didn’t get the cool name, fast thief, terrible claw, or savage robber that the others did and it seemed to have slipped by its moment in the Spotlight.
(not that there’s anything wrong with calling it Utahraptor of course, just not as scary sounding as the others)
Don’t forget to look over the rest of our dinosaur facts pages, our coloring and facts sheets are also free to download. We have popular dinosaurs Like Velociraptor, Atrociraptor and Pyroraptor in case utahraptor is not enough raptoring for you! to some less well known ones that are appearing in the new Jurassic World dominion movies.
There are answers to common dinosaur questions, and loads of other cool dinosaur activities and resources to look at. Just check them out on the big button below.
References
https://www.thoughtco.com/things-to-know-utahraptor-1093805
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahraptor#Discovery_and_naming
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakotaraptor
Hi, I am Roy Ford a General Studies and English Teacher who has taught all over the world. What started as a fossil collection became a great way to teach, motivate and inspire students of all ages and all over the world about dinosaurs and from that and children’s love of dinosaurs came the site dinosaur facts for kids, a resource for all ages.
