GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A rare and nearly complete dinosaur skeleton stolen from private property in Montana and stored in an evidence locker for more than two years has been turned over to researchers.
Scientists at the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in South Dakota say the 70-million-year-old turkey-sized predator could be a new species of raptor.
“It’s a mean and nasty little dinosaur,” said Peter Larson, president of the institute. “Even though it’s not very big, you wouldn’t want to meet it in a dark alleyway.”
Researchers say it’s unusual to find the skeleton of a meat-eating dinosaur, and especially one that’s so small.
“So many things can happen to a small-bodied animal,” Larson said.