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VELOCIRAPTORINE DROMAEOSAUR "RAPTOR" KILLING CLAW Tegana Formation - Kem Kem, Morocco LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD: 96 - 66 million years ago Without a doubt, a RAPTOR KILLING CLAW is the most sought-after fossil amongst all dinosaur fossil collectors regardless of how advanced they are. This specimen provides an excellent and rare opportunity to own a genuine KILLING claw WITH NO RESTORATION and NO REPAIR. Most killing toe claws from dromaeosaurs found in the Northern Sahara are much smaller than this specimen. On very rare occasions, teeth are found indicating a Velociraptorine dinosaur, of proportions as large or even larger than Velociraptor variants found in North America and Mongolia, existed in the North Sahara region in the Late Cretaceous. This is a KILLING CLAW from one of those Velociraptorine dromaeosaurs. Typical killing toe claws of lesser size dromaeosaurs that are more commonly found in the same deposit are two-thirds to just half the size of this spectacular specimen! Exceptionally clear and intact blood groove detail is evident. In VERY rare form, this complete claw fossilized and remained in undistorted form and shows a full and perfect profile of amazing density and preservation. This prize fossil can boast of having ZERO repairs nor fabrication. A surefire investment considering the market demand yet, lack of many quality specimens that have not needed at least some work. This specimen is AS FOUND! This is a surefire investment fossil considering the market demand. RAPTOR KILLING CLAWS can easily be considered the "holy grail" of fossil collecting! The market lacks quality specimens that have not needed extensive work. Most dinosaur claws of any species command the highest fossil prices and are the most demanded dinosaur fossils. The majority are mostly pieced back together from fragments and require CONSIDERABLE restoration. Raptor claws are unquestionably, the most asked for fossil claw AND A KILLING CLAW, THE #1 REQUEST. WARNING: We are seeing more and more claws coming out of Morocco that have been expertly reconstructed and restored IN Morocco. The workmanship is equal to U.S. skill levels and this is being done to fully exploit gaining the highest possible price at the source by the brokers of the diggers who find the claws and fossils. These expertly repaired and restored claws can fool all but the most trained eye and anyone that does not actually have extensive experience in fossil restoration, repair and preparation will likely not be able to tell the difference. These claws are being sold at shows and on the internet as having "NO REPAIR and/or NO RESTORATION" which is simply untrue but the ignorance of the seller is just repeating what the Moroccan dealer told him without their own ability to discern if any work was truly performed on the claw. EXTRAORDINARILY LARGE CLAWS HAVE BEEN COMING IN QUANTITY RECENTLY FROM MOROCCO. DESPITE THEIR HEFTY PRICE TAGS, SEVERAL WE HAVE EXAMINED WERE TOTAL FAKES! MANY CARVED FROM FOSSIL OR MODERN BONE TO EMULATE THE SURFACE DETAIL AND OPEN PORES OF REAL CLAWS! We have also heard this from one highly experienced fossil restoration expert who has been sent claws from unsuspecting buyers hoping to have their purchase improved with further preparation. After years of very few quality large claws being found and offered from the Sahara, suddenly monstrous "raptor claws" are emerging from dealers in Moroccan fossils as of recent times. That should be a red-flag alone. The workmanship of these claws is higher than seen in the past so be HIGHLY SUSPECT when purchasing such specimens. To have one of these large Moroccan claws examined in person by a third party of YOUR CHOOSING is your only insurance. This migration of highly skilled restoration work being done now at the source country of fossils is actually becoming more the norm with many varieties of fossils on the market. It is IMPERATIVE to ONLY deal with a very knowledgeable dealer who has considerable and first-hand personal experience with all facets of fossil fabrication, restoration and repair in order to avoid becoming a victim of the ignorance and fraud that unfortunately plagues this business.
Recent discoveries in China have shown feathered species existed. This has revolutionized paleontologists' view of what not only these creatures could have looked like when alive, but of possible plumage on other therapod dinosaurs. Dromaeosaurs share other characteristics with birds and theories now place these vicious predators as being the earliest ancestors of birds. Dromaeosaurs first evolved in the Early Cretaceous and survived right up to the end of the Late Cretaceous suggesting they were adaptable and capable hunters, surviving such a prolonged period yet, remaining virtually unchanged in overall design. LARGE KILLING CLAW OF THE FINEST PRESERVATION POSSIBLE - UNBROKEN WITH NO REPAIR OR RESTORATION! 1.5" long on the dorsal curve $1650 DC6-001 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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The
dromaeosaurs are popularly known (especially in the movie "Jurassic
Park") as "raptors", a group of fascinating extinct
creatures. Raptors ranged in size from the size of a small dog
on
up to 30 feet long! They are therapods that possessed specialized
features: a well-developed slashing talon on their second toe, a stiffened
tail, and large grasping hands.
The
"killing claw" of raptors was a terrifying and incredibly
efficient weapon. As they moved, it was held off the ground.
When the muscles of the toe were contracted, the claw swept down
quickly, providing for a powerful slash that may have been able to
disembowel prey swiftly. The stiffened tail would have been good
to stabilize the body while the grasping arms and jaws held onto the
prey for balance. Although there is no conclusive evidence for
this, it has been suggested that raptors could have performed leaps onto
large prey and used all four limbs to rip wounds in them. 
Raptors
were ferocious predators that some scientists believe hunted in packs
and attacked much larger dinosaurs by slashing their underbellies.
It is also believed that they were similar to lions in predatory
behavior, preferring ambushes and quick chases using their high
maneuverability along with strategic pack-hunting tactics. A human
could be torn to shreds by a pack of raptors in less than 30
seconds. 