Fukuiraptor

Fukuiraptor ("thief of Fukui") was a medium-sized theropod dinosaur of the Lower Cretaceous. The fossil was found in the Kitadani Quarry, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.^[1] A reconstructed fossil is exhibited in the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, Japan.^[2]

Fukuiraptor Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, 127–115 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Dinosauria
Clade:	Saurischia
Clade:	Theropoda
Clade:	†Megaraptora
Genus:	†Fukuiraptor
Type species
†Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis Azuma & Currie, 2000

Description

The type specimen is an immature specimen found in the Kitadani Quarry. The reconstruction of the skeleton indicates that this dinosaur was about 4.2 m long and 175kg in weight.^[3] The preserved elements include the skull, vertebral column, front limbs (arms) , and hind limbs (legs).^[1] Additional remains have been found in the site, indicating a breeding or nesting area.^[4]

Fukuiraptor is small compared to similar dinosaurs and is characterized for having relatively long hands with strongly curved sharp thin claws.^[1][2]

Classification

Due to its characteristics, it has been indicated that it belongs to Megaraptora, which is a group nested within Allosauroidea.^[2]