What makes Dromaeosaurus scientifically significant?

Dromaeosaurus provides critical insights into the evolutionary radiation of Theropoda. Holotypes and fossil evidence indicate: Partial skull and foot bones in the AMNH; isolated teeth common across Western Canadian formations.

Dromaeosaurus (Dromaeosaurus albertensis Matthew & Brown, 1922) - Size, Diet & Cretaceous Period Facts

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Dromaeosaurus (Dromaeosaurus albertensis Matthew & Brown, 1922) - Size, Diet & Cretaceous Period Facts | DinoOrigin

Evolutionary Taxonomy & Cladistics

View Dinosaur Phylogeny

Phylogenetic classification of Dromaeosaurus albertensis Matthew & Brown, 1922 based on peer-reviewed cladistic analyses of diagnostic skeletal synapomorphies.

Taxonomic Rank	Taxon / Clade	Diagnostic Context
Kingdom	Animalia	Monophyletic prehistoric clade
Phylum	Chordata	Monophyletic prehistoric clade
Clade	Dinosauria	Monophyletic prehistoric clade
Order	Saurischia (Lizard-Hipped Dinosaurs)	Characterized ancestrally by a triradiate pelvis with an anteriorly pointing pubis.
Suborder	Theropoda	Bipedal saurischian dinosaurs, historically dominated by carnivores and including the avian lineage.
Genus	Dromaeosaurus	Monophyletic prehistoric clade
Species	Dromaeosaurus albertensis Matthew & Brown, 1922	Specific authority designation

Anatomy & Physical Characteristics

Dromaeosaurus was the first recognized member of the famous dromaeosaurid family, described from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta. Unlike the gracile, slender-snouted Velociraptor, Dromaeosaurus possessed an unusually deep, boxy skull with heavy jaw muscles.

Biomechanical bite force analyses indicate its jaws delivered crushing bite forces almost three times greater than that of Velociraptor, allowing it to shatter small bones rather than relying solely on slashing wounds.

Diagnostic Morphological Traits

Stocky dromaeosaurid with a deep, robust skull, large curved teeth, feathered coat, and sickle claw on the second toe.

Comparative Scale & Biometrics

Anatomical dimensions relative to an average adult human (1.8 m / 6 ft tall)

Approx. 1.1× human length

Dromaeosaurus (Length)1.8–2 m (5.9–6.6 ft)

Adult Human1.8 m (6.0 ft)

Length

1.8–2 m (5.9–6.6 ft)

Height

0.7–0.8 m (2.3–2.6 ft)

Estimated Mass

15–20 kg (33–44 lbs)

Diet & Feeding Ecology

All Carnivore Species

Trophic Guild: Carnivore

Juvenile hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, small mammals, and lizards.

Paleobiology & Behavior

Robustly built small predatory theropod with powerful crushing jaws rather than purely slashing teeth. Living in the Dinosaur Park Formation, Dromaeosaurus shared small-predator ecological niches with Asian cousins like Velociraptor while coexisting with large hadrosaurs like Corythosaurus.

Habitat & Ecological Biome

Prehistoric Depositional Setting

Lush coastal plain floodplains, swamp forests, and lowland river valleys.

Fossil Evidence & Specimen Records

Preserved Skeletal Material & Bonebeds

Partial skull and foot bones in the AMNH; isolated teeth common across Western Canadian formations.

Discovery & Taxonomic Naming History

Year of Discovery / Description1914

Type Specimen Locality & FormationDinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada

Discovered by fossil hunter Barnum Brown; named by William Diller Matthew and Brown in 1922.

Geological Era & Chronostratigraphy

Explore All Cretaceous Period Fauna

Cretaceous Period PeriodTemporal Interval: 76–74 Ma (million years ago)

The longest and final period of the Mesozoic Era, characterized by the rise of flowering plants, ceratopsians, hadrosaurs, tyrannosaurids, and concluding with the Chicxulub asteroid impact.

Where It Lived & Paleoenvironment

North America Dinosaurs

During the Mesozoic Era, continental drift progressively reconfigured land bridges, atmospheric currents, and regional precipitation regimes. Fossils of Dromaeosaurus evidence its adaptation to the paleoenvironments of North America.

Paleogeographic RealmNorth America (North America)

Home to the fossil-rich Morrison Formation of the Late Jurassic and the Hell Creek and Dinosaur Park Formations of the Late Cretaceous.

Fossil Discovery Locality

Scientific Significance & Evolutionary Impact

The anatomical architecture of Dromaeosaurus serves as a crucial benchmark in vertebrate paleontology, illustrating key adaptive radiations within Theropoda.

Phylogenetic Placement: Informs cladistic debates concerning the divergence, skull biomechanics, and skeletal evolution of Cretaceous Period fauna.
Paleoecological Guild: Documents trophic specialization (Carnivore) and predator-prey dynamics across its regional ecosystem.
Taphonomic Record: Partial skull and foot bones in the AMNH; isolated teeth common across Western Canadian formations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dromaeosaurus

Scientifically verified answers based on peer-reviewed paleontological evidence.

Q1.When did Dromaeosaurus live?

Dromaeosaurus lived during the Cretaceous Period Period, approximately 76–74 Ma (million years ago). This places it within the Mesozoic Era.

Q2.How big was Dromaeosaurus?

Paleontological estimates place Dromaeosaurus at a length of 1.8–2 m (5.9–6.6 ft), a hip/standing height of 0.7–0.8 m (2.3–2.6 ft), and a body mass of 15–20 kg (33–44 lbs).

Q3.What was the diet of Dromaeosaurus?

Classified as a carnivore, Dromaeosaurus specialized in consuming Juvenile hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, small mammals, and lizards..

Q4.Where were Dromaeosaurus fossils discovered?

Fossil specimens of Dromaeosaurus have been recovered from Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada, with notable historic specimens documented in 1914. Discovered by fossil hunter Barnum Brown; named by William Diller Matthew and Brown in 1922.

Academic Literature & Peer-Reviewed References

Authoritative citations establishing the factual taxonomy, biometrics, and anatomy of Dromaeosaurus.

Journal of Vertebrate PaleontologyView Publication
Currie, P. J. (1995). New information on the anatomy and relationships of Dromaeosaurus albertensis (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 15(3), 576-591. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1995.10011250
Curated & Verified: 2026-09-24
Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

Dromaeosaurus

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