RE: Raptors

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

In regards to *Megaraptor namunquaihuii*, I wrote:

<<Nasty critter, size of a horse.>>

<<Well, that's the "height thing" again! :-) I saw that estimate on
the Giganotosaurus Web Page. I ASSUME (usually risky) that it meant to
the top of the head, not at the hip. By "size of a horse" you mean
weight?>

  Approximate mass (or weight) as based on a dromaeosaur. I'm sure the
dimensions would change if *Megaraptor* were to prove to be something
else, but this is pretty general. When I refer to size, I generally
compare the trunk and/or belly of the animal to some extant creature.
The horse is pretty close.

  For comparison, *Utahraptor* is pony-sized, *Deinonychus* is wolf-
to Saint Bernard-sized, and *Velociraptor* is German Shepherd- or
dobberman-sized.

<This creature would be a formidable predator, certainly!>

  Capable, I would think (whatever it is) of taking down a titanosaur,
one of the smaller ones assuredly. The long claw would be a perfect
tool for penetrated think hide and doing so well between the large
scutes (on at least those that had them).

==
Jaime A. Headden

Qilong, the website, at:
http://members.tripod.com/~Qilong/qilong.html
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All comments and criticisms are welcome!

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