Therizinosaurus

Genera and Species

Classification: Theropoda, Tetanura, Ceratosasuria, Therizinosauridae

Species: T. cheloniformis.

Characteristics

Therizinosaurus had long arms ending in three fingers tipped with huge saber shaped claws. An incomplete claw measured 2 ft around the outer curve. Close relative of raptors and other feathered dinosaurs and is reconstructed with feathers. The skull is small, with the tip of the lower jaw is down turned, on top of a long neck. The tail is short with a big belly and large four toed feet.

Size

Length 8 - 11 m (26 - 36 ft).

Weight 1.1 - 6.2 tons.

Behavior

This is a high browsing theropod that could have used its long claws to reach branches like a giant sloth. Main predator would have been the giant Asian tyrannosaur Tarbosaurus.

History of Discovery

Discovered by Maleev in 1954. It is known from arms, claws and leg bones.

Paleoenvironment

Found in Mongolia well watered forests with seasonal rains.

References

1. Paul, G. (2010). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (pp. 6197). Princeton, New Jersey: University Press Princeton
2. Worth, G. (1999). The Dinosaur Encyclopaedia (pp. 3874). Scarborough, Western Australia: HyperWorks Reference Software.