A dinosaur has disappeared on Long Island.
Not by extinction this time – someone made off with a life-size fiberglass replica of a meat-eating deinonychus.
The 10-foot-long, 5-foot-high model raptor was last seen Saturday night on West End Avenue in Oyster Bay, where it had been spending the weekend as a featured attraction at the annual Oyster Festival.
Deino had been attached to a metal pole that was bolted to an open trailer – but some predatory creature sawed through the pole to free him.
“It’s a very unusual theft and because of that we’re hoping the public will spot it somewhere,” said Nassau Detective Lt. John May.
“You’d definitely notice it, if someone rode by with it,” said event spokeswoman Cindy Smith.
The 265-pound deinonychus – whose name means “terrible claw” – usually lives at the nearby Sands Point Preserve.
It was brought to the festival to promote a “Battle of the Dinosaurs” exhibit sponsored at the preserve by the Center for Science Teaching and Learning and the Nassau County Parks Department.
May asked anyone with information to call (800) 244-TIPS.