Bakker, Burnham, Currie, Derstler, Zhou and Ostrom

Bambiraptor

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Learn more about Bambiraptor

Quick Facts
Name	Bambiraptor
Diet	Carnivore
Weight	6350 kilos
Length	1 meter
Height	0.9 meters
Period	Late Cretaceous

Bambiraptor was one of the most important fossils found in North America. It was a bird-like dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in the Late Cretaceous. This specimen is an essential piece of the bird/dinosaur puzzle. The discovery is key to understanding bird-dinosaur evolution. It had feathers and fluff covering its body, which were used as protection for baby birds.

It had features common to modern birds today. One thing all modern birds have is a wishbone that allows them to flap their wings. It had long arms and hands for its body. Also, an ossified sternum which is essential for birds to move their wings to fly. Despite its similarities to modern birds, it does not change the fact that it was a dinosaur of the raptor family. It came with a killer claw on its leg like Velociraptor. The mouth was full of sharp teeth for ripping, tearing or cutting flesh. It was a fierce hunter during its time feeding on small mammals and reptiles. The brain was the size of today's modern birds.

In addition, it was discovered by 14-year-old fossil hunter Wes Linster in 1993 in Glacier National Park in Montana.

The estimated size of Bambiraptor was about 3 feet long, 1 foot tall, and weighed 7 pounds.

What does Bambiraptor mean?

Aside from its small size, the name Bambiraptor comes from the popular Disney movie character, which translates as "Bambi Thief."

What did Bambiraptor eat?

Bambiraptor was a ferocious hunter during its time, feeding on small mammals and reptiles.

When did Bambiraptor live?

It lived throughout the same epoch as Gorgosaurus and Maiasaura, but several million years before T., about 74 to 80 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period.

Where did they live?

When did they live?

What was your diet?

Who discovered them?

What kind of dinosaurs are they?

What type of species are they?

How are they classified?

References

[1] Presentation page of the Bambiraptor of the American Museum of Natural Sciences, Archived
Senter, 2006. Comparison of forelimb function between Deinonychus and Bambiraptor (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 26(4), 897-906.
Garstka, Marsic, Carroll, Heffelfinger, Lyson and Ng, 2000. Analysis of the structure and articulation of the forelimb bones of the maniraptoran dinosaur, Bambiraptor feinbergi, support predation as the pre-adaptation of flight. The Florida Symposium on Dinosaur Bird Evolution. Publications in Paleontology No.2, Graves Museum of Archaeology and Natural History. 16
Burnham, D. A. (2004). "New Information on Bambiraptor feinbergi from the Late Cretaceous of Montana". In Philip J. Currie, E.B. Koppelhus, M.A. Shugar, J.L. Wright (eds), ed. Feathered Dragons: Studies on the Transition from Dinosaurs to Birds.. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. pp. 67-111. ISBN 0-253-34373-9.
Burnham, Derstler, Currie, Bakker, Zhou and Ostrom, 2000. Remarkable new birdlike dinosaur (Theropoda: Maniraptora) from the Upper Cretaceous of Montana. The University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions. 13, 1-14.
Burnham, Derstler and Linster, 1997. A new specimen of Velociraptor (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Two Medicine Formation of Montana. Dinofest International Proceedings. 73-75.
Norell and Makovicky, 2004. Dromaeosauridae. in Weishampel, Dodson and Osmólska (eds.). The Dinosauria (second edition). University of California Press, Berkeley. 196-209.
Burnham, DA, Derstler KL and Linster, W., 1997, "A New Specimen From Velociraptor (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Montana Medicine Two Formation ", 'Dinofest International Proceedings'.
Burnham, D. A. (2004). "New Information on Bambiraptor feinbergi from the Late Cretaceous of Montana". In Philip J. Currie; E.B. Koppelhus; M.A. Shugar et al.eds. Feathered Dragons: Studies on the Transition from Dinosaurs to Birds.. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. pp. 67-111. ISBN 0-253-34373-9.
Burnham and Durstler, 2000. Bambiraptor feinbergi (Dinosauria, Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae). The Florida Symposium on Dinosaur Bird Evolution. Publications in Paleontology No.2, Graves Museum of Archaeology and Natural History. 10.
Currie and Varricchio, 2004. A new dromaeosaurid from the Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Alberta, Canada. in Currie, Koppelhus, Shugar and Wright (eds). Feathered Dragons. Studies on the transition from dinosaurs to birds.. Indiana University Press. 112-132.
Senter, Barsbold, Britt and Burnham, 2004. Systematics and evolution of Dromaeosauridae. Bulletin of Gunma Museum of Natural History 8: 1-20.
Norell, Clark, Turner, Makovicky, Barsbold and Rowe, 2006. A new dromaeosaurid theropod from Ukhaa Tolgod (Omnogov, Mongolia). American Museum Novitates. 3545, 51 pp.
Senter, 2007. A new look at the phylogeny of Coelurosauria. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

Fun Facts

He was a carnivore.
It was named after the popular Disney movie character, which translates to "Bambi's Thief."
It was a bipedal dinosaur that could run as fast as a chicken.
He lived in what is now North America.
It had feathers like a bird.