Utahraptor ostrommaysi

A 3D model of Utahraptor ostrommaysi, the largest and most powerful of the dromaeosaurid dinosaurs! This is also a remake of an older Utahraptor model I did that predates my Tyrannosaurus.

Utahraptor was a giant dromaeosaurid that lived in North America during the early Cretaceous. More specifically, it lived in what would eventually become Utah, hence its name. It was enormous in size by dromaeosaur conventions, standing at 2.7 meters tall and 7 meters long, rivalling a white rhinoceros in length and a polar bear in weight. Not only was it the largest of all the dromaeosaur "raptors", but it was also the largest terrestrial carnivore in its region at the time it was alive. Unlike many other dromaeosaurids, Utahraptor was heavily specialized for hunting larger prey, and possesses a multitude of characteristics unseen in most other members of its family. It was a massive and robust animal, with relatively short arms, a large skull, and a shorter tail that was more flexible due to the absence of ossified tendons. It was also significantly slower than other raptors, sacrificing speed in favor of physical strength. Thickened leg bones and a heavier center of gravity also allowed Utahraptor to attack prey by performing powerful kicks. The most unique feature of Utahraptor other than its size was its jaws; the mandible was powerful and robust, and the tip of the lower jaw curved downward at the tip, with the front teeth projecting forward in a manner roughly similar to the unrelated Masiakasaurus. This unique dentition strongly implies that Utahraptor may have greatly relied on its jaws on dispatching prey as well.

This Utahraptor is largely accurate to its real life counterpart, and is based on the most up-to-date reconstructions as opposed to older perceptions of the animal from before the late 2010's. However, it also has its share of fictionalized elements. The model itself was skinned over a 3d Skeletal made by Mithoskuu, and I actually created an entire temporary muscle layer to use as reference for muscle tone and outline in the final mesh. As usual, the texture maps are in 4k, and were initially baked in Blender before being refined further with Substance Painter. The Utahraptor is fully rigged, and its armature is extensively IK-driven, allowing for very precise bird-like movements and satisfying posability. The raptor even has a rudimentary facial rig that allows it to perform facial expressions that it wouldn't even be able to do in life lol. This is also the very first model where I attempt to apply proper bird-like feathers. In this case, Drawing from modern ostriches for reference and taking into consideration the immense size of the animal, decided to give Utahraptor relatively reduced feathering, with much of the body below the waist having bare, leathery skin.