Fine Dromaeosaurid Dinosaur Hand Claw

Description: This is a fine example of a manual ungual (forefoot claw) from a dromaeosaurid dinosaur coming from the Lower Cretaceous Albian Stage deposits of the Kem-Kem Basin, Morocco. Claws are far less commonly found than teeth; indeed, while I have seen literally hundreds of teeth of this type of dinosaur offered, only a literal handful of claws are available. In life, the claw would have been covered in a horny sheath which would have made it at least a third larger. While the popularity of Jurassic Park leads some to use the term “raptor” for this taxon, the term has no taxonomic value. There is a small amount of matrix at the proximal end of the claw obscuring the articular surface (see my other postings for an even more complete example). This one comes in a Riker-type box ready for display.