The furculae of the dromaeosaurid dinosaurDakotaraptor steiniare trionychid turtle entoplastra

Abstract

Dakotaraptor steiniis a recently described dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. Included within theD. steinihypodigm are three elements originally identified as furculae, one of which was made part of the holotype specimen. We show that the elements described asD. steini‘furculae’ are not theropod dinosaur furculae, but are rather trionychid turtle entoplastra referable to cf.Axestemys splendida. The hypodigm ofD. steinishould be adjusted accordingly.