Known popularly as "raptors," dromaeosaurids were a diverse family of feathered theropod dinosaurs.

In addition to being feathered, members of Dromaeosauridae had long tails and an elongated "sickle claw" on the second toe. While this distinctive body plan suggests a link to birds, scientists are still unclear on the exact connection between these two successful evolutionary lines, though there is some evidence that smaller species could at least glide.

This specimen is a fragment of a fossilized bone from a larger dromaeosaurid species recovered on private land in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. All specimens measure around 1cm and are enclosed in an acrylic specimen jar with a removable top which arrives in a handsome, glass-topped riker box case measuring 4x3x1". It comes complete with an informational card that serves as statement of authenticity.

Be sure to also check out our showcase collection of Raptor Bone below!

"You bred raptors?" ~ Dr. Alan Grant, Jurassic Park

Within the dromaeosaurid family individual characteristics include a relatively large skull, serrated teeth, a narrow snout, and forward-facing eyes, the latter suggesting some level of binocular vision common to most predators. They had a moderately long S-curved neck and a short body. They were bipedal, walking on their hind legs, their feet bore a large, recurved, scimitar-like claw on the second toe, and their tails were long and slender. Their long arms could be folded next to their body and their large hands had three long fingers ending in sharp claws.

Fossil discoveries in 1999 confirmed that most if not all dromaeosaurids were probably covered in feathers. This would have included down-like feathers which would have coated the body as well as pennaceous feathers (those with a stalk or quill as illustrated here). Some theropod fossils also include fully developed feathered wings.

Species in the family ranged in size from smaller than a modern-day chicken to large, powerful predators measuring more than 18 ft (6 m) in length from tooth-to-tail. In addition to being feathered, members of Dromaeosauridae had long tails and an elongated "sickle claw" on the second toe. Numerous studies suggest that these adaptations helped these predators quickly subdue their prey.

It has been suggested that at least five dromaeosaurid species had the ability to fly or glide. This possibility is supported by the length of the forelimbs and the evidence of quill knob attachments for long, sturdy flight feathers. The dromaeosaurid, Microraptor gui (pictured above), was equipped with well-developed wings on both hind and forelimbs. Studies have found that Microraptor gui had the physical requirements to sustain level-powered flight in addition to gliding.

While this distinctive body plan suggests a link to birds, scientists are still unclear on the exact connection between these two successful evolutionary lines, though there is some evidence that at least five smaller species could glide, if not fly. This possibility is supported by the length of the forelimbs and the evidence of quill knob attachments for long, sturdy, flight feathers.

For many years scientists had hypothesized about group hunting behavior in dromaeosaurids, a natural question given their size in relation to certain prey. The exciting discovery and analysis of a fossil theropod trackway in 2007 uncovered six parallel and closely spaced trackways. Elsewhere, theropod fossils have been uncovered in small groups, sometimes near the remains of herbivore dinosaurs. This has been taken as evidence of coordinated packs working together to hunt. However, other interpretations suggest that the theropods were solitary hunters which were drawn to previously killed carcasses; a mobbing behavior.