Overview

• Scientists in China have uncovered footprints left by raptors significantly larger than those depicted in popular media, reaching up to five meters in length.
• The tracks, named Fujianipus yingliangi, were discovered in Fujian Province and date back to the late Cretaceous period.
• These findings suggest raptors were not only larger but also more geographically widespread than previously thought.
• The size of the newly discovered raptors indicates they could have been among the top predators of their time, competing with other large carnivores.
• Researchers highlight the diversity in raptor sizes, from the newly found giant tracks to the smallest known raptor footprints measuring just one centimeter.