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So, I present another work. This time - a little more complex one than usual, because two taxa are involved at once. This is the recently described early Cretaceous megaraptorans from Thailand - Phuwiangvenator yaemniyomi and Vayuraptor nongbualamphuensis. They are even described in one paper.

Both taxa are described by fragments of the postcranium, in particular, the tibia. Dating suggests the simultaneous existence of these theropods. Phuwiangvenator is estimated at 6 m in length, compared with about 4-4,5 that of its contemporarie. Cranial material is unknown for both, so you cannot talk about their differences in feeding. However, they had to occupy slightly different ecological niches. In any case, they could well be pursuing predators, and the name "Vayuraptor" reflects this feature (literal translation - "raptor of the Wind", on behalf of the Hindu wind god Vayu, a hint of the swiftness of the animal).

Phuwiangvenator was attributed to non-megaraptorid Megaraptora, and the data to determine the exact taxonomic position of Vayuraptor is still insufficient, but it is shown as the basal coelurosaur (although the megaraptoran version considered among probable). In general, Samathi et al. adhere to the "coelurosaurian" point of view on the taxonomy of megaraptorans. This question is still waiting for a clear answer. Phuwiangvenator and Vayuraptor seem to demonstrate the wide distribution and success of Megaraptora in the early Cretaceous, as there are specimens from Australia and South America attributed to this clade and this time period.

Images of both animals are quite speculative because of the scarcity of material. Looking at the skeletal drawing of the Phuwiangvenator, I noticed not the most impressive wrist with claws among the megaraptorans, so I made a higher head than on the silhouette. Integument based on possible affiliation of megaraptorans to the coelurosaurs - the "feathered" clade.

Technical pencil 2B, 2019.

Description

So, I present another work. This time - a little more complex one than usual, because two taxa are involved at once. This is the recently described early Cretaceous megaraptorans from Thailand - Phuwiangvenator yaemniyomi and Vayuraptor nongbualamphuensis. They are even described in one paper.

Both taxa are described by fragments of the postcranium, in particular, the tibia. Dating suggests the simultaneous existence of these theropods. Phuwiangvenator is estimated at 6 m in length, compared with about 4-4,5 that of its contemporarie. Cranial material is unknown for both, so you cannot talk about their differences in feeding. However, they had to occupy slightly different ecological niches. In any case, they could well be pursuing predators, and the name "Vayuraptor" reflects this feature (literal translation - "raptor of the Wind", on behalf of the Hindu wind god Vayu, a hint of the swiftness of the animal).

Phuwiangvenator was attributed to non-megaraptorid Megaraptora, and the data to determine the exact taxonomic position of Vayuraptor is still insufficient, but it is shown as the basal coelurosaur (although the megaraptoran version considered among probable). In general, Samathi et al. adhere to the "coelurosaurian" point of view on the taxonomy of megaraptorans. This question is still waiting for a clear answer. Phuwiangvenator and Vayuraptor seem to demonstrate the wide distribution and success of Megaraptora in the early Cretaceous, as there are specimens from Australia and South America attributed to this clade and this time period.

Images of both animals are quite speculative because of the scarcity of material. Looking at the skeletal drawing of the Phuwiangvenator, I noticed not the most impressive wrist with claws among the megaraptorans, so I made a higher head than on the silhouette. Integument based on possible affiliation of megaraptorans to the coelurosaurs - the "feathered" clade.

Technical pencil 2B, 2019.