Genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous
Dromaeosauroides
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, 140 Ma
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Cast of the holotype tooth (DK 315), Geological Museum, Copenhagen
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Clade:
Dinosauria
Clade:
Saurischia
Clade:
Theropoda
Family:
†Dromaeosauridae
Clade:
†Eudromaeosauria
Subfamily:
†Dromaeosaurinae
Genus:
†Dromaeosauroides Christiansen & Bonde, 2003
Type species
†Dromaeosauroides bornholmensis
Christiansen & Bonde, 2003
Dromaeosauroides is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of what is now Denmark and possibly also England. It was discovered in the Jydegaard Formation in the Robbedale valley, on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. This is the only likely place for dinosaur remains to be discovered on Danish territory, since the Mesozoic deposits exposed in the rest of the country are marine. Dromaeosauroides is the first known dinosaur from Denmark, and the only one which has been scientifically named. It is one of the oldest known dromaeosaurs in the world, and the first known uncontested dromaeosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Europe.
It is known from two teeth, the first of which was found in 2000 and the second in 2008. Based on the first tooth (the holotype), the genus and species Dromaeosauroides bornholmensis was named in 2003. The genus name means "Dromaeosaurus-like", due to the similarity to the teeth of that genus, and the species name means "from Bornholm". After this discovery, remains and tracks of more dinosaurs were found in several formations on Bornholm. Some teeth from the United Kingdom that have been referred to the genus Nuthetes may also belong to this animal. Coprolites containing fish remains found in the Jydegaard Formation may belong to Dromaeosauroides.
The holotype tooth is 21.7 millimetres (0.85 in) long, and the second tooth is 15 millimetres (0.59 in). They are curved and finely serrated. In life, Dromaeosauroides would have been 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 ft) in length, and weighed about 40 kilograms (88 lb). As a dromaeosaur it would have been feathered, and had a large sickle claw on its feet like its relatives Dromaeosaurus and Deinonychus. It lived in a coastal lagoon environment with sauropods, as evidenced by a possible titanosaur tooth.
Dromaeosauroides is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of what is now Denmark and possibly also England. It was discovered...
to Bornholm. Bornholm disease Battle of Bornholm (disambiguation) Dromaeosauroides bornholmensis, the first dinosaur found in Denmark Arts and Crafts...
Matthew & Brown 1922 Genera †Achillobator? †Boreonykus? †Dakotaraptor? †Deinonychus? †Dromaeosauroides? †Dromaeosaurus †Itemirus? †Utahraptor †Yurgovuchia...
Dromaeosaurinae Achillobator? Itemirus? Dromaeosaurus Dakotaraptor? Dromaeosauroides? Utahraptor? Yurgovuchia? Dromaeosauridae was first defined as a clade...
sp. Some large specimens referred to Nuthetes may instead belong to Dromaeosauroides. Additional teeth have been attributed to Nuthetes from the nearby...
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