Valdoraptor is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 136 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered in England. The name Valdoraptor means “Wealden plunderer,” and it is known from some foot bones, particularly the metatarsus, which is part of the dinosaur’s foot structure.
The specific type of Valdoraptor is called Valdoraptor oweni. It was first identified from fossil bones that were found near Cuckfield, which belong to a specific rock layer known as the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation. While the fossils are incomplete, they are significant because they represent the earliest known ornithomimosaur from England.
The discovery of Valdoraptor began in 1858 when a scientist named Richard Owen mistakenly labeled the foot bones as belonging to a plant-eating dinosaur called Hylaeosaurus. However, by 1881, another scientist, John Whitaker Hulke, realized that these bones actually came from a meat-eating dinosaur. Over time, the species was named Megalosaurus oweni, honoring Richard Owen for his earlier work.
Later, the dinosaur was moved to a new group when Friedrich von Huene reclassified it as Altispinax oweni in 1923. Finally, in 1991, George Olshevsky created the new genus Valdoraptor and renamed the species to Valdoraptor oweni.
Valdoraptor is important because it has features that make it different from similar dinosaurs. Though some scientists debated if it was the same as other dinosaurs like Neovenator or Eotyrannus, research has shown that it likely has distinct traits. In fact, studies suggest it could be one of the oldest known ornithomimosaurs, which were dinosaur groups known for their bird-like characteristics.
In summary, Valdoraptor is a fascinating dinosaur that helps us understand the diverse types of theropod dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago.