Siamraptor is a type of dinosaur that is now extinct. It lived around 120 to 112 million years ago during the Aptian period. The fossil remains of Siamraptor have been found in Thailand, making it one of the first named species of its kind from Southeast Asia.
**Discovery**
Siamraptor was discovered by the Japan-Thailand Dinosaur Project between 2007 and 2009. They dug up fossils in a place called Saphan Hin, located in Thailand. In 2019, the dinosaur was officially named and described by a team of scientists.
The name “Siamraptor” comes from “Siam,” the historic name for Thailand, and the Latin word “raptor,” which means “robber.” The species name “suwati” honors a supporter of paleontological research in that region.
The fossils mostly consist of bones from the dinosaur’s jaw, but other parts like vertebrae and bones from its legs were also found. These fossils provide important clues about what Siamraptor was like.
**Description**
Scientists discovered some unique characteristics of Siamraptor compared to other similar dinosaurs. For instance, the bone structure in its jaw was different, with specific shapes and grooves that set it apart. Its bones also had small holes and notches that are unusual for other theropods, a group that includes many meat-eating dinosaurs.
**Classification**
Siamraptor belongs to a larger group of dinosaurs known as Carcharodontosauria. This group also includes other large carnivorous dinosaurs. Various studies have placed Siamraptor in different places on the family tree of theropods, but it is generally considered a significant member of this large predator family.
Overall, Siamraptor helps scientists learn more about dinosaurs that lived in Southeast Asia and adds to our understanding of dinosaur evolution during the time they roamed the Earth.