The velociraptor is one of the world’s best-known dinosaurs, thanks to its appearance as the main villain in Jurassic Park.  It’s the perfect mixture of speed and cunning, and while it has dangerous claws, it’s not exactly going to overpower anyone.  However, the velociraptor has a newly-discovered carnivore cousin who is like a velociraptor on steroids.  Called Balaur bondoc, Latin for stocky dragon, this 6-foot 7-inch-long meat-eater features super-sharp claws and was described as “one of the largest predators in this ecosystem” by study co-author Zoltan Csiki of the University of Bucharest.

The meat-eater, uncovered in Romania, was described by Stephen Brusatte as a larger, slower, stronger raptor cousin.  “Compared to Velociraptor, [this dinosaur] was probably more of a kickboxer than a sprinter, and it might have been able to take down larger animals than itself, as many carnivores do today.”  While it’s no T. Rex, it’s still an impressive specimen when you compare it to the average predator of the day.  Still, it definitely lacks a certain cuteness some other dinosaurs have.

Tags: new dinosaur species discovered, new dinosaur, stocky velociraptor, stocky dragon, Balaur bondoc, new species, Romania, Zoltan Csiki, University of Bucharest, large velociraptor relative, new carnivore dinosaur discovered, unusual animals, Stephen Brusatte

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