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The Eumaniraptora is a clade of non-avian theropod dinosaurs that first emerged during the late Jurassic period and diversified extensively during the subsequent Cretaceous period (143-66 Million years ago). This group is most famously known as the Raptor dinosaurs (the sister clade of the theropod dinosaurs that gave direct rise to the birds), consisting of mostly small to mid sized theropod dinosaurs. There are a few species though that exceed the typical small-medium size range for the raptor dinosaurs. Only a few giant raptor dinosaurs are currently known. But recent discoveries over the past few decades have demonstrated large raptor dinosaurs were less of an exception in Cretaceous ecosystems than previously thought. Here is a list of all the currently known giant Eumaniraptora from the fossil record which hopefully can expand our understanding the vital roles these animals played in the ecosystems they once inhabited. Let me know if I forgot any examples. South America Austroraptor cabazai (Dromaeosauridae - Argentina, South America) (Late Cretaceous (78-66 Million Years ago)) (grew up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2679073/ Antarctica Imperobator antarcticus (Eumaniraptora - part of what is now James Ross Island, Antarctica) (Late Cretaceous (71 Million Years ago)) (grew up to 4 meters (13 feet) in length, note: did not have the iconic pair of sickle shaped claw on its feet like most other Eumaniraptora) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667118300120?via%3Dihub Asia Achillobator giganticus (Dromaeosauridae - part of what is now Mongolia, Asia) (Late Cretaceous (96-89 Million Years ago)) (grew up to 5 meters (16 feet) in length) Perle, A.; Norell, M. A.; Clark, J. M. (1999). "A new maniraptoran Theropod−Achillobator giganticus (Dromaeosauridae)−from the Upper Cretaceous of Burkhant, Mongolia". Contributions from the Geology and Mineralogy Chair, National Museum of Mongolia (101): 1−105. Unnamed Bissekty Formation Giant Dromaeosauridae (Dromaeosauridae (could possible be a species of Itemirus) - part of what is now Uzbekistan, Asia) (Late Cretaceous (92-90 Million Years ago)) (based on Specimens CCMGE 600/12457, ZIN PH 11/16, grew up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263891965_Dromaeosauridae_Dinosauria_Theropoda_from_the_Bissekty_Formation_Upper_Cretaceous_Turonian_of_Uzbekistan_and_the_phylogenetic_position_of_Itemirus_medullaris_Kurzanov_1976 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/geological-magazine/article/abs/giant-dromaeosaurid-theropod-from-the-upper-cretaceous-turonian-bissekty-formation-of-uzbekistan-and-the-status-of-ulughbegsaurus-uzbekistanensis/4543ABAB1EC19C84405EDF66A5F53124 Europe Unnamed Wessex Formation Giant Dromaeosauridae (Dromaeosauridae (specimens for this species could belong to Vectiraptor) - Isle of Wight, Great Britain, Europe) (Early Cretaceous (125 Million Years ago)) (based on Specimens IWCMS.2002.1, IWCMS.2002.3, IWCMS.2002.4., and BMNH R 16510, grew up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222830089_The_first_record_of_velociraptorine_dinosaurs_Saurischia_Theropoda_from_the_Wealden_Early_Cretaceous_Barremian_of_southern_England https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667121003712 Unnamed Giant Dromaeosauridae (Dromaeosauridae - Gorodishchenskii District Russia, Europe) (Late Cretaceous (72.1-66.0 Million Years ago)) (based on Specimen VGI. no. 231/2, grew up to 5.8 meters (19 feet) in length) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235806763_Carnivorous_dinosaurs_Saurischia_Theropoda_from_the_Maastrichtian_of_the_Volga-Don_Interfluve_Russia North America Utahraptor ostrommaysi (Dromaeosauridae - Western North America) (Early Cretaceous (135-130 Million Years ago)) (grew up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285714464_A_large_dromaeosaur_Theropoda_from_the_Lower_Cretaceous_of_eastern_Utah Dakotaraptor steini (Dromaeosauridae - Western North America) (Late Cretaceous (66 Million years ago)) (grew up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283655219_The_first_giant_raptor_Theropoda_Dromaeosauridae_from_the_Hell_Creek_Formation Unnamed Marshalltown Formation Giant Dromaeosauridae (Dromaeosauridae - Eastern North America) (Late Cretaceous (72.1 Million Years ago)) (based on Specimen NJSM 14158, grew up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327117985_The_distinctive_theropod_assemblage_of_the_Ellisdale_site_of_New_Jersey_and_its_implications_for_North_American_dinosaur_ecology_and_evolution_during_the_Cretaceous https://terpconnect.umd.edu/~gdouglas/raptor/index.html Unnamed Tar Heel Formation Giant Dromaeosauridae ((Dromaeosauridae - Eastern North America) (Late Cretaceous (78.5-77.1 Million Years ago)) (Based on Specimen YPM.VPPU.021397, grew up to 3.4 meters (11 feet 2 inches) in length) https://peerj.com/preprints/26829/ Alaska Troodontid (Troodontidae (could be a species of Troodon or a new genus in Troodontidae) - Prince Creek Formation Alaska, Western North America) (Late Cretaceous (70.6-69.1 Million Years ago) (grew up to almost 4 meters (13 feet) in length) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236632883_On_the_Occurrence_of_Exceptionally_Large_Teeth_of_Troodon_Dinosauria_Saurischia_from_the_Late_Cretaceous_of_Northern_Alaska Latenivenatrix mcmasterae (Troodontidae - Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta Canada, Western North America) (Late Cretaceous (75.5 Million years ago)) (grew up to 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) in length) https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/78296/1/cjes-2017-0031.pdf Unnamed Mount Laurel Formation Giant Dromaeosauridae (Dromaeosauridae - Eastern North America) (Late Cretaceous (72.1 Million Years ago)) (based on Specimen NJSM GP 22949, grew up to 3.4 meters (11 feet 2 inches) in length) https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.191206 What do you guys think?

Hi, Any ideas as to what this kind of fossils either of these are ? They are from near Sites, California. I'm not quite sure the age, but based on the age of mudstones in the area, it should be late Jurassic to Cretaceous. Note this is form a bore hole (not surface collected), but I am not positive of depth. Thank you in advance.

Hi All! Whilst in southern Spain I came across these three very interesting fossils (at least I know one of them is) please could you help identify the other two? #1 This shell like fossil was full of rock, which I managed to remove without damaging the shell. #2 I'm not so sure about this one, it has some interesting mineral going through it and the markings which looks like an arrow with a circle at the base are what caught my eye. #3 And the ammonite, correct me if this is wrong. Thanks in advance for any help that can be given 😁

L.S., Wanted to raise some awareness on TFF because I expect many here will simply love this: A good friend of mine, Iris van Zelst (geophysicist at the German Aerospace Center in Berlin) has developed this really nice card game centred around the geological time scale: QUARTETnary The gameplay is based on the classic game Quartets (similar to Go Fish and Happy Families), where players try to collect as many sets of four cards as they can. In QUARTETnary, each of the sets represents four major events that took place during a specific geological time period. To win the game, you need to create the most complete timeline of Earth history, all the way from its formation 4.567 billion years ago to the appearance of us humans. The cards have been designed by Lucia Perez-Diaz (Earth scientist and freelance illustrator from the UK). The illustrations look amazing and I really like that they adhered to the official colour scheme of the International Commission on Stratigraphy. Iris sent me this nice set of cards for the Proterozoic: The game includes 15 sets of four cards in total (many featuring fossils): one each for the Hadean, Archean and Proterozoic eons, and one each for the 12 periods of the Phanerozoic. I expect QUARTETnary will become a really fun way to learn about and memorize the different geological units and major events in Earth history. Kind regards, Tim

A new pliosaur from the Kimmeridgian deposits at Kimmedige has just been revealed to the world! Rumours have been going around about it for some time, but now the source of the rumours has been revealed, and it's spectacular! Belonging to the genus Pliosaurus, to judge from it's age and tooth morphology, it's one of the best preserved - if not best preserved - skull of its kind! https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67650247?fbclid=IwAR3ukvNzGPSxBdhBp3Z3zrIEJZEbDki1ezYhSrCaLjpYVUIsc_nOGPexuDs

I was fortunate enough to be able to visit Morocco last year in May and tour the wonderful geology of the country. This will be a very short recap of the experience because frankly there are just too many things to share. For starters, the culture is fantastic. Morocco consists primarily of the Berber people and they are some of the friendliest people I've encountered. Very welcoming and ready to share some tea with you. Tea is by far the most common thing you will drink in country. I'm quite certain there were days that I had tea at least 8 separate times, and the tea was fantastic. If you've never had Moroccan tea then you are missing out (the mint tea in particular is wonderful). The cuisine is beyond amazing, and there honestly wasn't anything in country that I didn't like. Trying to replicate some of the foods has been a challenge (my tagine is getting close), but I suppose that just means I'll need to return some day. The country is also very safe throughout. As a solo female traveler, I felt comfortable at all times and was not concerned. However you should know that few people speak English. The most common languages people know are Arabic, French, and Berber, so there was some language barrier but as with most things, it was doable. My arrival to Morocco began in Marrakech where I was met by my guide who drove me out of the city, through the Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass at 2200m in elevation. Eventually we made our way to Tamdahkte and I stayed at a wonderful riad that was (as I would come to find out) quite open air just as most riads and buildings are in Morocco. On the way we stopped at a salt mine and walked through.

This is a marine reptile bone that i found nearly 10 years ago between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, which is famous for its Early Jurassic marine fossils (about 195 million years old). Although it is worn there is some clear shape that should indicate what bone it is, although i have so far been unable to figure it out. Realistically, it is going to be ichthyosaur (most likely) or plesiosaur in origin. Two ovular depressions/joint surfaces are clearly visible on one side of the bone. Furthermore, the flatness of the bone is real and not just due to wear (both main faces are the edge/surface of the bone). The side with the two suspected joint surfaces is the thickest side, and it slopes down to become progressively thinner opposite to them. A paddle bone of some sort is my suspicion but i am yet to see a clear match. Any ideas? Thanks!

I saw this Allosaurus claw for sale today . I dont know how a real Allosaurus claw looks like , so I wanted to ask If its real or fake . It shows some bone texture at the back , but it looks a bit weird (to me). It was found in Wyoming, where exactly wasnt said . Its from the jurassic period . 11 cm in length .

I can't identify this ammonite from Germany, maybe it's Pleuroceras? Please help me! Thx

It is came from Sichuan,Shaximiao Formation,Jurassic. The seller told me that it is pliosaurs but some of my friends thought it is crocodile. I really want to know its ID.

Hi My wife and I have just returned from a relaxing week on the Yorkshire coast, walking and looking for ammonites. We didn’t find much but what we did find were pretty rare. First some scenic pics: The last is Whitby Abbey which features in Dracula. First ammonite, an Asteroceras multi block. Second, a androgynoceras multi block Third Paltechioceras (extremely rare and needs glueing back together and prepping) Peronceras subarmatum Apoderoceras subtriangularae (rare and in solid pyrite) all ammonites need prepping and they were mainly from Robin Hoods Bay. Finally, a promising crinoid block. Sadly no bone (apart from a few pyritic ribs)

What were certain times that barely as of yet, not known or poorly known in Vertabrate paleontology like the Cretaceous for example, in massachusetts and the nearby areas like new england and other parts of the northeast like down to about Pennsylvania like during these unreserved times, and what life was likely around there? Thanks!

Massive Submarine 'Superstructure' Has Been Lurking on the Pacific Ocean Floor; Scientists Explore Its Formation and Growth. Margaret Davis, LiveScience, Jan 11, 2024 Experts stunned by massive underwater structure expanding since Jurassic era. By Vikrant Singh, WION (India), January 11, 2024 The paywalled paper is: Konrad, K., Balbas, A., Finlayson, V.A., Jackson, M.G., Konter, J.G., Koppers, A.A., Price, A.A. and Steinberger, B., 2024. Four distinct pulses of volcanism built the Melanesian Border Plateau: Implications for oceanic mid-plate superstructure formation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 626, no.118549. Yours, Paul H.

A series of articulated Ichthyosaur vertebrae collected from a shale block at Warren Bay just west of Watchet, Somerset. This was by best find from the trip and I did not expect to find something this good on my first visit to this locality. upon closer examination, I also discovered that there was more bone hidden within the shale, so hopefully I can remove the matrix and expose it. First, though, I'm going to have to make sure that pyrite decay doesn't set in.

I recently received this tooth from Shotover Hill Gravel quarry, Oxfordshire, England ( Kimmeridge Clay Formation in Oxford, Jurassic). Can anyone recognize which species I can attribute this to? thank you in advance!

Hi, several years ago, I was hiking a canyon about 25 miles south of Moab in a broad canyon at the base of Moenkopi, Chinle (Triassic), Wingate, and a bit of Kayenta (Jurassic). I found this bone in an ephemeral stream that ran through the canyon and have been curious. Anybody have ideas? It is unlikely petrified wood which is extremely prevalent in the area.

Hi guys, on a website I found this dinosaur footprint for sale. It was discovered in Germany. In your opinion is it real o fake? Thanks a lot!

The other day I found this strange looking rock on the beach at Port Mulgrave- a well known fossil hunting site near Whitby. I'd be interested to know if anyone has any ideas as to what it might be before I go ahead and hammer it out...it looks like a typical nodule from the area with several distinct lumps. I hypothesise a group of Ammonites but this is only a guess. Any help would be much appreciated!

The best ammonite from Filevsky Park (Moscow) for several years of searching!