Utahraptor is a genus of theropod dinosaur belonging to the group Dromaeosauridae. It lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 126 to 125 million years ago. The first fossils of Utahraptor were discovered in eastern Utah, USA, in the early 1970s.

Utahraptor, a robust bipedal carnivore, holds the distinction of being the largest known member of the dromaeosaurid family, measuring up to an impressive 18 feet or 5.5 meters in length and weighing up to 300 kilograms. Equipped with small serrated teeth and a formidable large claw on its second toe, akin to deinonychus, these were its primary weapons for hunting and subduing prey. Utahraptor possessed a boxy and elongated skull, aiding its agility and speed as it ran, complemented by its long tail, which provided balance during various activities.

One of the most captivating aspects of Utahraptor lies in its feathers. The discovery of well-preserved fossilized feathers associated with this dinosaur has challenged the conventional depiction of dinosaurs as scaly reptiles. Utahraptor, along with other similar theropods, suggests that feathers likely played a crucial role in insulation, display, and perhaps even flight for some smaller species. This revelation has transformed our understanding of dinosaur evolution and their connection to modern-day birds.

The initial specimens of Utahraptor were found in 1975 in the Dalton Wells Quarry of Utah, near the town of Moab, but did not garner significant attention. It was only after the discovery of a large claw in October of 1991 that scientists uncovered further remains of Utahraptor in 1991 at the Gaston Quarry in Grand County, Utah.