Atrociraptor “giganteus” is a genetically-modified species of dromaeosaurid dinosaur in the subfamily Saurornitholestinae. It differs significantly from its ancestral form, the species Atrociraptor marshalli, to merit clear distinction; Jurassic-Pedia has given it an unofficial new species name which references its noticeably larger size. The genus name, Atrociraptor, means “savage thief.” This dinosaur originally lived during the Maastrichtian stage of the late Cretaceous period, about 68.5 million years ago, in North America. Fossilized remains have been found in the Canadian province of Alberta.
So far, only one specimen has been uncovered, the fossil of an adult discovered in 1995 near the town of Drumheller by Wayne Marshall. The fossil was located in an Albertosaurus bone bed in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation. Only the upper and lower jaws were found, demonstrating an animal distinctly different than other Albertan dromaeosaurs due to its short, tall skull and raked rows of teeth. Other teeth bearing the unique appearance of Atrociraptor dentition have been discovered in the Horseshoe Canyon. The species was named in 2004 by paleontologists Philip J. Currie and David Varricchio: the specific name, marshalli, honors the man who discovered it. Originally it was assigned to the subfamily Velociraptorinae, but in 2009, Currie performed further research and discovered that it was more appropriately classified in the subfamily Saurornitholestinae.
Atrociraptor has been brought back from extinction using extensive genetic modification of ancient DNA discovered in Cretaceous-aged amber. The Department of Prehistoric Wildlife hypothesized they may have been genetically modified via dna poached from raptors on Isla Sorna. Similarly to Velociraptor “antirrhopus,” it bears a large number of obvious phenotypic alterations from its original form. These are possibly genomic errors, but given that genetic research into theropods has gone on since the 1980s and these errors are well-known, they may instead have been intentional alterations on the part of its creators for aesthetic purposes.
Initial reports from the DPW also indicate that these animals are believed to be genetically modified for speed, and have been trained to kill. These animals have only been documented in captivity in illegal dinosaur markets, and there are no known individuals in the wild.
