I suspect that Penny is correct. Whether they evolved or became entirely extinct and the reasons for this, will keep us all arguing for many years.

Of course we may not have that many years left to argue the point?

The change from being the dominant life form, to not being that, is a lesson we should learn from them however.

Watching a film of a Cassowary being prevoked into attacking a human recently made me think. The Cassowary is a large flightless bird and has a spine or claw on its feet, similar to the one that a 'raptor' has.

It suggested to me that he method of using this claw would be similar in both species? The films do not show 'raptors' useing this method, just showing it as a sort of 'switchblade'.

The cassowary jumps forward, in a sort of very effectice, if ungainly drop-kick. The spur inflicting serious, sometimes fatal (to humans) injuries.

This method would not make as good a film but it would seem to be sensible method for 'raptors' of useing the claw?