Pamparaptor

Pamparaptor is one of the smallest meat-eating dinosaurs from Patagonia, only about as long as a cat.2

Its name means 'thief of the Pampas', after the grassy plains of Argentina where it was found.1

The only fossil found is a complete left foot, including the famous 'killing claw' that dromaeosaurs used to slash prey.1

Scientists first thought Pamparaptor was a baby of another dinosaur called Neuquenraptor, but later decided it was its own species.1

Pamparaptor lived about 93 to 85 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period.3

Its foot bones are very slender and the third and fourth metatarsals are almost the same length, which is unusual for dromaeosaurs.1