# Vectiraptor > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Vectiraptor > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Vectiraptor.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectiraptor > Source revision: 1314948958 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Dromaeosaurid dinosaur genus from Early Cretaceous England Vectiraptor Temporal range: Barremian, 125 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Camellate pneumaticity inside the dorsal vertebrae of Vectiraptor greeni Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Saurischia Clade: Theropoda Family: †Dromaeosauridae Clade: †Eudromaeosauria Genus: †Vectiraptor Longrich, Martill & Jacobs, 2021 Species: †V. greeni Binomial name †Vectiraptor greeni Longrich, Martill and Jacobs, 2021 ***Vectiraptor*** (meaning "[Isle of Wight](/source/Isle_of_Wight) thief") is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [dromaeosaurid](/source/Dromaeosaurid) [dinosaur](/source/Dinosaur) from the [Barremian](/source/Barremian) aged [Wessex Formation](/source/Wessex_Formation) of the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom). The type and only species is ***Vectiraptor greeni***, known from associated [dorsal vertebrae](/source/Dorsal_vertebrae) and a partial [sacrum](/source/Sacrum).[1] ## Discovery and naming Wessex Formation outcrops at Compton Bay, Isle of Wight, where the holotype was discovered. *Vectiraptor* was initially discovered by amateur paleontologist Mick Green in 2004 in rocks of the [Wessex Formation](/source/Wessex_Formation), below the cliffs of Compton Bay on the [Isle of Wight](/source/Isle_of_Wight), United Kingdom. The finds form the [holotype](/source/Holotype) **IWCMS. 2021.31.1-3**, consisting of two [dorsal vertebrae](/source/Dorsal_vertebra). Later a partial [sacrum](/source/Sacrum) of three vertebrae, IWCMS. 2021.31.2, would be discovered by the late Nick Chase. The element has been determined to belong to the holotype as all fossil elements were discovered over a short time period, and each find was located within several metres of the others. The holotype represents an adult individual, the age of which was estimated at twenty to thirty years on the basis of growth lines in the bone cortex. The vertebrae were donated to the collection of the Isle of Wight County Museum Service.[1] The [type species](/source/Type_species) *Vectiraptor greeni*, would be erected by Nicholas Longrich, David Michael Martill and Megan Jacobs in 2021. The generic name, *Vectiraptor*, combines the [Latin](/source/Latin) words *Vectis*, meaning "the Isle of Wight," and *raptor* meaning "thief". The specific name, *greeni*, is in honour of Mick Green who initially discovered and prepared the [type material](/source/Type_material).[1] Of large and wide dromaeosaurid teeth previously reported from Wight, such as the specimens IWCMS.2002.1, IWCMS.2002.3, IWCMS.2002.4 and BMNH R 16510,[2] the describing authors considered it likely that they in fact belonged to *Vectiraptor*, though they were not formally referred.[1] ## Description Size of *Vectiraptor* compared to a human The posterior dorsal The body length of *Vectiraptor* was estimated to be 2.5–3 metres (8.2–9.8 ft).[1] The holotype includes two partial dorsal vertebrae and parts of the sacrum. Although fragmentary, the material shows a combination of features found only in the [Dromaeosauridae](/source/Dromaeosauridae), including relatively short and massive [vertebrae](/source/Vertebrae), tall [neural spines](/source/Neural_spines), and facets for the [ribs](/source/Ribs) set on long stalks.[1] Two [autapomorphies](/source/Autapomorphies), or unique derived traits, were established. With the front vertebrae of the back, the usual deep triangular depression at the underside of the side process is subdivided by an extra ridge. The [neural spines](/source/Neural_spine) are robust with wide rough depressions for the attachment of ligaments.[1] The vertebrae showed extensive pneumatisation. The dorsals had pleurocoels through which the air sacs of the respiratory system entered the vertebral bodies, forming large camellate air spaces. The diapophysal fossa also invaded the neural arch. The neural canals were expanded to behind, embaying the top of the centrum. The sacral vertebrae lacked pleurocoels and had a spongy bone structure. Their combined neural canal was so wide however, that it might have contained an air chamber, accessed by spaces between their partially fused neural arches.[1] ## Phylogeny A number of features, including the animal's large size, short dorsals, the presence of openings in the posterior dorsal vertebrae for [air sacs](/source/Air_sacs), and the tall and narrow in side view neural spines with ligament scars, suggest the animal is a member of, or related to, the [Eudromaeosauria](/source/Eudromaeosauria). The resemblance to eudromaeosaurs from North America suggests a faunal exchange between North America and Europe.[1] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Longrich_1-8) Longrich, Nicholas R.; Martill, David M.; Jacobs, Megan L. (17 December 2021). ["A new dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Wessex Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Barremian) of the Isle of Wight, and implications for European palaeobiogeography"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667121003712). *Cretaceous Research*. **134** 105123. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2022CrRes.13405123L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022CrRes.13405123L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105123](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cretres.2021.105123). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0195-6671](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0195-6671). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [245324247](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:245324247). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Sweetman, S.C., 2004. "The first record of velociraptorine dinosaurs (Saurischia, Theropoda) from the Wealden (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) of southern England". *Cretaceous Research* **25**: 353-364 v t e Dromaeosauridae Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Theropoda Clade: Paraves Avemetatarsalia see Avemetatarsalia Theropoda see Theropoda Maniraptora see Maniraptora Dromaeosauridae see below↓ Dromaeosauridae Dromaeosauridae Daurlong Hesperonychus Pyroraptor? Shanag Tianyuraptor Variraptor? Zhenyuanlong Halszkaraptorinae/-idae? Halszkaraptor Hulsanpes Mahakala Natovenator Unenlagiinae/-idae? Austroraptor Buitreraptor Dakotaraptor? Diuqin Imperobator? Kank Neuquenraptor Ornithodesmus? Overoraptor? Pamparaptor Pyroraptor? Rahonavis? Unenlagia Unquillosaurus? Variraptor? Ypupiara Microraptoria Changyuraptor Graciliraptor Jian Microraptor Sinornithosaurus Wulong Zhongjianosaurus Eudromaeosauria Balaur? Bambiraptor Dineobellator Vectiraptor Saurornitholestinae Atrociraptor Bambiraptor? Saurornitholestes Dromaeosaurinae Achillobator Dakotaraptor? Deinonychus? Dromaeosauroides Dromaeosaurus Itemirus Saurornitholestes? Utahraptor Yurgovuchia Zapsalis Velociraptorinae Acheroraptor Adasaurus Boreonykus? Deinonychus? Kansaignathus Kuru Linheraptor Luanchuanraptor? Nuthetes? Saurornitholestes? Shri Tsaagan Velociraptor See also: Timeline Category Taxon identifiers Vectiraptor Wikidata: Q110181348 Paleobiology Database: 454784 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vectiraptor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectiraptor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectiraptor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.