World's Smallest Raptor!

TL;DR

Wyoming Dinosaur Center unveils the Lori specimen, a newly discovered micro raptor, offering insights into avian-dinosaur lineage.

Transcript

• [Coyote] Okay so these are the actual bones, but you guys have built a prototype of what this skeleton would look like if it was fully articulated correct? - [Jessica] We have so we did 3D scan all these bones and all the blocks and then 3D printed it. - Okay and what you guys can't see yet is that it is right over here to my left should we take ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🦕 The Lori specimen, discovered in Wyoming, is the smallest known dinosaur from the state.
• 🦕 The Wyoming Dinosaur Center houses unique fossils, including the largest (Jimbo) and smallest (Lori) dinosaurs found in Wyoming.
• 💝 The Lori specimen offers valuable information about late Jurassic raptors, contributing to the understanding of avian-dinosaur evolution.
• ❓ The accidental and delicate discovery of the Lori specimen highlights the importance of careful excavation techniques in paleontology.
• 👻 3D scanning and printing technology allows for the creation of detailed skeleton replicas, aiding in research and education.
• 🎟️ Wyoming Dinosaur Center's mission is to keep fossils in Wyoming and provide the public with opportunities to learn and engage with paleontological discoveries.
• 🎥 Jurassic Park popularized the idea of "raptors," but the size and behavior of true raptors, like the Lori specimen, differ from the film's portrayal.

Questions & Answers

Q: How was the Lori specimen discovered?

The Lori specimen was accidentally unearthed with a shovel during the removal of overburden in Douglas, Wyoming.

Q: How did the Wyoming Dinosaur Center identify the Lori specimen as a new species?

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center compared different parts of the skeleton to known specimens and found no other match in the late Jurassic period.

Q: What are some of the features of the Lori specimen?

The Lori specimen has distinct sickle-shaped claws on its toes, long forelimbs resembling wings, and is believed to be a pair avian, contributing to the study of avian-dinosaur lineage.

Q: Why did the Wyoming Dinosaur Center decide to leave the Lori specimen in the matrix?

The Lori specimen is too delicate to extract fully, and leaving it in the matrix provides stability and preserves its fragile condition.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Wyoming Dinosaur Center reveals the Lori specimen, a new species of raptor called Hesperornithoides.

• The fossils were accidentally discovered near Douglas, Wyoming, and were 3D scanned and printed to create a prototype of the fully articulated skeleton.

• The Lori specimen is a Troodontid, a form of Manaraptoran, and provides valuable insights into the late Jurassic period.