Name:
Luanchuanraptor (Greek for "Luanchuan thief"); pronounced loo-WAN-choo-WAN-rap-tore
Habitat:
Woodlands of Asia
Historical Period:
Late Cretaceous (70 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 3-4 feet long and 5-10 pounds
Diet:
Meat
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Small size; probably feathers
About Luanchuanraptor:
As obscure as it is, the tiny, probably feathered Luanchuanraptor occupies a distinct place in the dinosaur record books: it was the first Asian raptor to be discovered in eastern rather than northeastern China (most raptors from this part of the world, like Velociraptor, lived further west, in modern-day Mongolia). Other than that, Luanchuanraptor seems to have been a fairly typical "dino-bird" for its time and place, possibly hunting in packs to overwhelm bigger dinosaurs.
