Therizinosaurus was a massive, herbivorous theropod from the Late Cretaceous (70 million years ago) in Mongolia, characterized by the longest claws of any known animal—up to 3 feet (
) long. Measuring roughly 33 feet (
) in length and weighing up to 5 tons, this “scythe lizard” used its, surprisingly fragile, claws to reach and gather vegetation, not for hunting.
ThoughtCo +5
Key Facts About Therizinosaurus:
- Claws and Defense: Therizinosaurus possessed the longest claws of any land animal, reaching over 3 feet in length. While initially thought to be used for hunting, studies suggest they were too weak for combat, serving better for grabbing, hooking branches, or defense.
- Diet and Behavior: Despite being a theropod (a group usually consisting of meat-eaters), Therizinosaurus was a herbivore. It likely used its long neck and claws to browse on plants, similar to modern sloths.
- Size and Structure: It was a large, bipedal dinosaur that grew to approximately 33 feet (
) in length and weighed between 3 to 5 tons. It had a small head, long neck, and a heavy, bulky body.
- Discovery and History: The first fossils, including the massive claws, were discovered in 1948 in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. Initially, paleontologists mistook the claws for those of a giant, ancient sea turtle.
- Appearance: As part of the therizinosaur family, it was almost certainly covered in feathers.
ThoughtCo +8
Therizinosaurus is often depicted as a, relatively, docile, yet dangerous if disturbed, giant, famously appearing in Jurassic World: Dominion.
Really appreciate this, thank you!