Lay Ho, Linheraptor

There's a new dromaeosaur from China, and its fossilized remains match the recently described pterosaur Zhenyuanopterus for sheer beauty. So perfect, it looks like something Hollywood might create. Its name is Linheraptor exquisitus, and it's announced in the print journal Zootaxa. There isn't a lot to say about it yet; it's superficially similar to Velociraptor, in terms of size and shape of the skull. Dave Hone promises more details to come. Head over to Archosaur Musings to see photos of fossil casts as well as a killer painting by Matt Van Rooijen. Van Rooijen also has a post about the creation of his reconstruction at his own blog, Optimistic Painting. I think it signals a welcome new voice into the paleoart world.