Raptor Fossil Collection
Dromaeosaurus was the original raptor. It was a small, vicious hunter that had a mouth full of serrated, razor-sharp teeth and a sharp, hooked claw on each foot that it used to clamp down on its victims. Its jaws were long and solidly built for its size, and its neck was curved and flexible. It may have been able to smell its prey, and it probably possessed a good sense of hearing. Its tail was sheathed in a lattice of bony rods but was flexible at the base, allowing it to be carried in a sharply upturned aerial like position. Its remarkably large eyes gave it excellent vision. Its vicious claws, although shorter than those of other dromaeosaurs, still gave it a distinct advantage over most of its prey.