Open Paleo

Graciliraptor

Xu & Wang, 2004 GRAS-il-i-RAP-tor

Graceful thief; from Latin gracilis (graceful) and raptor (thief or seizer)

125.8–121.4 million years ago Barremian, Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous stages

Graciliraptor is a genus of microraptorian dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the early Cretaceous Period. Its fossil, holotype IVPP V 13474, was found in Beipiao, Liaoning Province, China. The type species is Graciliraptor lujiatunensis, named and described in 2004 by Xu Xing and Wang Xiaoling. The generic name is derived from Latin gracilis (meaning "graceful") and raptor (meaning "thief"). The specific name refers to the village of Lujiatun where the fossil site is located.

Diagnosis

  1. Laminal structure connecting the postzygapophyses of middle caudals.
  2. Middle caudals extremely long and slender (centrum length/width ratio ~8.6).
  3. Ungual of manual digit I much smaller than that of manual digit II.
  4. Proximal end of metacarpal III strongly expanded dorsoventrally, deeper than metacarpal II.
  5. Proximal tibiotarsus shaft rectangular in cross section; tibiotarsus extremely slender (length/midshaft-diameter ratio ~28).
  6. Astragalar medial condyle significantly expanded posteriorly; metatarsal II distally much wider than other metatarsals.

Species

Graciliraptor lujiatunensis Xu & Wang, 2004

Type species

Named for the village of Lujiatun in Liaoning Province, China, where the fossil site is located.

Holotype
IVPP V13474 , Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology
Material
Fragmentary maxilla with some teeth, a few caudals, almost complete forelimbs, and partial hindlimbs.
Horizon
Lujiatun Member, Yixian Formation, Barremian, Early Cretaceous , 125.8–121.4 million years ago
Locality
Lujiatun, Liaoning, China

References

  1. Xu, X.; Wang, X. L. (2004). A new dromaeosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 42(2): 111-119.

    Calls the holotype's horizon the Lujiatun bed, the lowest member of the Yixian Formation.

    xu2004a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the hip height estimate, and the appearance features.

    jones2026c
  3. Zhong, Y.; Huyskens, M. H.; Yin, Q. Z.; Wang, Y.; Ma, Q.; Xu, Y. G. (2021). High-precision geochronological constraints on the duration of 'Dinosaur Pompeii' and the Yixian Formation. National Science Review 8(6): nwab063. doi:10.1093/nsr/nwab063

    Dates the base of the Yixian Formation, the Lujiatun Unit that yielded the holotype, to 125.755 Ma: Barremian on the ICS chart v2024/12 at its central value; its error reaches the Hauterivian.

    zhong2021a
  4. Gale, A. S.; Mutterlose, J.; Batenburg, S.; Gradstein, F. M.; Agterberg, F. P.; Ogg, J. G.; Petrizzo, M. R. (2020). The Cretaceous Period. Geologic Time Scale 2020 (Gradstein, F. M.; Ogg, J. G.; Schmitz, M. D.; Ogg, G. M., eds) 1023-1086. Elsevier, Amsterdam. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-824360-2.00027-9

    Gives the GTS2020 Barremian span, 126.5 to 121.4 Ma; the ICS chart v2024/12 starts the stage at 125.77 Ma.

    gale2020a