Fun Austroraptor Facts For Kids

The Austroraptor is an interesting dinosaur indeed! It lived in the Cretaceous period, one of the oldest recorded geological eras around. Though there has been only one partial skeleton discovered for this species, there is much to know and learn about even from the limited means of information. They were called the southern thief since they would steal eggs to feed themselves. In addition, their names are also tied to their country of origin. Based on the dromaeosaurids skeleton, it is assumed that this raptor had all the characteristics to survive in the demanding plains of current-day South America.

If you love learning about new and interesting dinosaurs, then you should definitely read on to learn all about the Austroraptor! If you feel like discovering new and interesting species, then simply go on ahead to our Brontosaurus and Crichtonsaurus articles too.

How do you pronounce 'Austroraptor'?

The word Austroraptor is pronounced at 'Awe-stroh-rap-ter'.

What type of dinosaur was an Austroraptor?

The Austroraptor was a Theropod. They were also called dromaeosaurs, which means that they were classified as 'birdlike' raptors. This genus name meant that they hunt on two feet and have small front limbs, particularly arms. In addition, their legs, teeth, and skull are powerful

In which geological period did the Austroraptor roam the earth?

The Austroraptor roamed the earth in the Cretaceous period, which was approximately 70 million years ago.

When did the Austroraptor become extinct?

The Cretaceous period came to an end 65 million years ago. This is usually when it is assumed that the Austroraptor became extinct.

Where did an Austroraptor live?

In this southern hemisphere, this dromaeosaurid's fossil has been discovered only in South America (in Argentina). Therefore, it has been assumed that this medium-sized specimen only lived in South America 70 million years ago.

What was an Austroraptor's habitat?

The Austroraptor lived in the plains of the southern hemisphere. This means that they lived in a climate of vast grasslands, with occasional shrubbery and forestry, with little water but scorching summers.

Who did an Austroraptor live with?

Very rarely have scientists discovered a skeleton in the company of any other dromaeosaurids specimen. Even the skeleton discovered for this raptor was found alone. Therefore, it is assumed that these animals did not live in packs but preferred to stay alone.

How long did an Austroraptor live?

Due to a lack of skeletons (such as skull and teeth) of the dromaeosaurs, it is impossible to pinpoint a specific lifespan based on just the lonely Austroraptor skeleton we have. However, since their species survived for up to 10 million years, we can assume that long life was part of their genus.

How did they reproduce?

Much like other reptiles, this dinosaur will also reproduce similarly and lay eggs. But, again, much like other reptiles, their eggs will hatch in a few weeks, and the young ones would have been ideally on their feet in just a few hours.

What did an Austroraptor look like?

A birdlike dromaeosaur, this bird had a long tail and strong legs to keep it upright and allow it to chase prey. It also has long, sharp teeth and short arms. These characteristics help it stand out from other animals. It also has a scaly body, much like other reptiles, and strong bones.

How many bones did an Austroraptor have?

To date, only one skeleton has been discovered for this specimen (Austroraptor cabazai). The fossil, too, is not a complete one, with just parts of the skull, teeth, ribcage, and some few other parts of a fossil present. Since there is no accountability for the complete skeleton of these cretaceous dinosaurs, it is impossible to deduce how many bones they had.

How did they communicate?

Though the vocal cords of these animals are not preserved in their bones, their skull and teeth might indicate how they would communicate. Though they are one of the largest of the dromaeosaurs but it is not thought that they were too loud.

How big was an Austroraptor?

As one of the largest dromaeosaurs, they were approximately 16.4–19.7 ft (5–6 m) in length. Their size was probably one of their most beneficial characteristics, as it helped them not only evade potential predators but also catch prey effectively.

How fast could an Austroraptor move?

Though there is no definite answer to their speed, scientists can only make an approximate guess. These cretaceous dinosaurs are thought to have run at speeds as fast as 31 mph (49.8 kph). Scientists also believe that their short forearms reduce aerial drag and help them run faster to catch their prey.

How much did an Austroraptor weigh?

This dromaeosaur (Austroraptor cabazai) weighed around 200.6–500.4 lb (91–227 kg). This makes the extinct dromaeosaur weigh as much as a present-day lion. Talk about being a heavyweight - because this dromaeosaur was one!

What were the male and female names of the species?

Unfortunately, there are no specific names for the males and females of the species. This may be because there has been the only specimen discovered of this creature in Argentina.

What would you call a baby Austroraptor?

There have been no baby bones or eggs found preserved to allow scientists to study them. Therefore, there has been no name decided for the baby Austroraptor yet.

What did they eat?

Their prey was mostly smaller animals, fish, and birds. Since the length of their front limbs (arms) was very small, it is not possible that they could catch any bigger prey.

How aggressive were they?

Due to a lack of research into this animal, it is impossible to determine if they were aggressive. However, since they were predator animals, it is assumed they did have some level of aggression.

Did you know...

The term Austroraptor means 'southern thief.' This may be because bird-like dinosaurs like this cannot hunt large prey, so they must resort to smaller prey, like fish. They may also pick up the eggs of other birds to eat. That is why they are called by the 'thief' moniker.

Who discovered the Austroraptor?

Fernando Novas had discovered the Austroraptor. Fernando discovered a specimen of this creature in Argentina in 2008. This was at the Río Negro Province of Argentina. The short length of the arms and the unique structure was what tipped off Novas to the fact that he had discovered anything else before.

Austroraptor vs. Utahraptor

They are both relatively similar. They fall within the same length range and have similar characteristics. However, since they did not exist in the same time span, or even the same geological age, further commentary on the Austroraptor and the Utahraptor is not possible just yet.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about other creatures from our Sauropelta facts, or Orodromeus facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Austroraptor coloring pages.

Images by Fred Wierum.