Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LEHI, Utah (AP) — An unusual, nine ton sandstone block of dinosaur fossils has been installed in the paleontology lab at the Museum of Ancient Life in Lehi.
The Deseret News reports (http://bit.ly/1K0WfQj ) that the block contains a 16-foot-long adult Utahraptor and four juveniles and a 3-foot-long hatchling of the same species.
The Utah Geological Survey describes Utahraptors as agile meat-eaters much like the ferocious velociraptor in the movie "Jurassic Park."
Paleontologists say the dinosaurs were likely covered in feathers and could grow to 9 feet tall and 19 feet long.
Until the block was discovered, there was no evidence supporting the idea that raptors hunted in packs.
Paleontologist James Kirkland of the Utah Geological Survey led the excavation. He believes an iguanodont fell into quicksand before the Utahraptors descended on the prey and became stuck themselves.
___
Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
