The new for 2025 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Austroraptor model is heading our way. We expect this figure of Austroraptor cabazai to be in stock at Everything Dinosaur in a few days. It is the largest dromaeosaurid known to date from the Southern Hemisphere. Size estimates vary, partly because the holotype specimen is fragmentary and also because a second referred specimen is around two thirds the size of the holotype.
Austroraptor may have reached a length of six metres, and it is estimated to have weighed around three hundred kilograms. Although heavier weight estimates have been proposed. For example, Benson et al proposed a much heavier body mass in a paper published in PLOS Biology (2014)*.
This paper looked at the remarkable morphological and ecological diversity of animals. Moreover, particular emphasis was placed on the Dinosauria. The researchers examined the theory that evolutionary rates are highest early in the evolution of a group, as lineages diversify to fill disparate ecological niches.
The team found rapid evolutionary rates in early dinosaur evolution, beginning in the Late Triassic. They postulated that this occurred as dinosaur body sizes diversified rapidly to fill new ecological niches, including herbivory. High rates were maintained only on the evolutionary line leading to birds. As part of their research, they estimated body size of animals based on the robustness or otherwise of their limbs. Austroraptor fossils were part of this study. A body mass estimate in excess of five hundred kilograms was reported.
The new for 2025 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Austroraptor figure shown in lateral view.
The Wild Safari Prehistoric World Austroraptor Model
Fortunately, this new dromaeosaurid figure is considerably lighter. This attractive model of a feathered dinosaur measures a fraction over twenty-two and a half centimetres in length. Those carefully painted black quills on the head are nearly eight centimetres off the ground. This replica of Austroraptor cabazai will be in stock at Everything Dinosaur shortly.
To view the range of Wild Safari Prehistoric World figures: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures.
As part of preparations for the arrival of this theropod figure, Mike from Everything Dinosaur has been writing a fact sheet. The fact sheet will include a scale drawing of Austroraptor cabazai.
The Austroraptor cabazai scale drawing prepared by Everything Dinosaur in anticipation of the arrival of the Wild Safari Prehistoric World Austroraptor figure. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Mike explained:
“We commission a drawing of most of the prehistoric animal models that we sell. This drawing is then used to create a scale drawing, and this is added to our free fact sheet. These scale drawings help our customers to appreciate the estimated size of the actual prehistoric animal.”
To read Everything Dinosaur’s blog post from December 2008 about the discovery of Austroraptor: Introducing Austroraptor – A Fearsome Predator of the Late Cretaceous.
The scientific paper*: “Rates of Dinosaur Body Mass Evolution Indicate 170 Million Years of Sustained Ecological Innovation on the Avian Stem Lineage” by Roger B. J. Benson, Nicolás E. Campione, Matthew T. Carrano, Philip D. Mannion, Corwin Sullivan, Paul Upchurch and David C. Evans published in PLOS Biology.
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