A Dromaeosaurus was long, but about half of those 7 feet was its tail! It had feathers and was shaped a bit like a roadrunner. This running lizard had a sharp sickle claw on its toe like a Velociraptor!
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Some Quick Facts About the Dromaeosaurus
| Name | Dromaeosaurus albertensis (meaning “Running lizard”) |
| Type of dinosaur | Dromaeosauridae Theropoda dinosauria |
| Territory | Swampy forests of North America |
| Size | Small dino 6-7 feet long, 2-3 feet tall, around 35 pounds |
| Color | Brown feathers with contrasting colors |
| Interesting Characteristics | Sickle claw on the second toe, super long tail |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Major Threats | Large carnivores, climate disaster |
The small Cretaceous dinosaur Dromaeosaurus was a vicious predator. Even though they were small, they were a very specialized animal hunter. They even ate the bones of their prey!
Was the Dromaeosaurus the Smallest Dromaeosaur?
The Dromaeosaurus wasn’t the smallest Dromaeosaur. The smallest Dromaeosaur was a Microraptor. The Dromaeosaurus also wasn’t the biggest of the Dromaeosaurs.
This dino fell near the middle of the Dromaeosaur pack, size-wise. The Dromaeosaurus was bigger than Microraptor and Velociraptor. A Utahraptor was the largest known Dromaeosaur and more than three times the size of the Dromaeosaurus!
Did the Dromaeosaurus hunt?
The Dromaeosaurus might not have been the largest Dromaeosaur, but it was still a vicious predator. Even the bigger, distant relative Troodon wouldn’t go after a large Dromaeosaurus’ prey. However, this aggressive hunter wasn’t afraid of a fight.
How was the Dromaeosaurus Discovered?
Paleontologist Barnum Brown discovered the Dromaeosaurus. He searched for fossils on behalf of the American Museum of Natural History. During the 1914 expedition, Barnum Brown found a partial skull and foot bones.
Barnum Brown spent most of the early 1900s digging for dinos. In 1902, Barnum Brown found the first known Tyrannosaurus rex. This find in the Hell Creek Formation was an incredible moment for paleontology.
It took almost ten years for Barnum Brown to finally name the Dromaeosaurus type species. The full name Dromaeosaurus albertensis means “Running lizard from Alberta.” The abbreviation for this dino is D. albertensis.
When and Where Did the Dromaeosaurus Live?
The Dromaeosaurus first appeared in Western North America about 80 mya (million years ago). This period is known as the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period. The newer Dromaeosaurus fossil found by paleontologists dated to about 69 mya.
Some teeth that might belong to the Dromaeosaurus have been found in the Hell Creek and Aguja Formations, which date back to about 66 mya. That means the Dromaeosaurus could’ve survived to the end of the Mesozoic Era when the asteroid killed all the dinosaurs!
What Dinos Did the Dromaeosaurus Live With?
The Dromaeosaurus lived with a lot of really cool dinos. North America was full of dino species during the Late Cretaceous period. Some of our favorite dinos that lived with Dromaeosaurus were:
- Ankylosaurus
- Dakotaraptor
- Troodon
- Triceratops
- Tyrannosaurus rex
Preserved footprints show that Dromaeosaurids lived in groups. This is an exciting finding since most of what we know about Dromaeosaurus is from studying other Dromaeosaurids. There just aren’t that many Dromaeosaurus fossils yet.
What Dinos Was the Dromaeosaurus Related to?
The Dromaeosauridae family included a lot of raptors. That means the Dromaeosaurus was related to the Velociraptor and Deinonychus! The Dromaeosaurus was also related to other dinos, including:
- Achillobator
- Dakotaraptor
- Microraptor
- Utahraptor