Extraordinary claws
Its enormous manual claws are among the longest known in any animal, with the bony cores approaching a metre in length.
A REAL DINOSAUR. A SUSPICIOUSLY FAMILIAR PERSONALITY.
THERIZINOSAURUS.
A hobby that got out of hand.
You started with a casual interest. Now there is specialized equipment, a dedicated room, and a vocabulary that concerns your friends. Your commitment is magnificent.
SIGNATURE MOVESaying ‘It's just a little project’ beside a very large project.
SPECIMEN 14 / LATE CRETACEOUS
THERIZINOSAURUS CHELONIFORMIS · HERBIVORE
THERIZINOSAURUS CHELONIFORMIS · HERBIVOREPaleoNeolitic · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Meet the actual dinosaur THE ACTUAL SCIENCE STARTS HERE
Meet the real Therizinosaurus.
The jokes are ours.
The animal was very real.
- WHEN
- About 70 million years ago
- ON THE MENU
- Herbivore
- LENGTH
- About 9–10 m
- BODY MASS
- Roughly 4–5 tonnes
A mistaken turtle
The original claw material was initially interpreted as belonging to a giant turtle-like reptile.
A theropod eating plants
Therizinosaurs evolved a largely herbivorous lifestyle within a group famous for meat-eating members.
Long-armed anatomy
Large forelimbs carried the spectacular claws, unlike the reduced arms of many giant predatory theropods.
Family resemblance
A long neck, broad torso, and small head are reconstructed largely using more complete relatives.
Nemegt ecosystem
Its fossils come from Mongolia's Nemegt Formation, which preserves river and floodplain environments.
A little room for discovery.
Therizinosaurus itself is fragmentary. Claw function, exact diet, and many details of its appearance rely partly on comparisons with relatives.
Read more: Therizinosaurus on Wikipedia · Research and references. Facts are summarized in our own words. Size and date ranges are approximate; estimates vary by specimen and study. Gallery images may include other species within the genus.
A closer look.
Fossils, museum displays, and published reconstructions. Artwork shows an interpretation; it is not a photograph of a living dinosaur.
Is this your prehistoric alter ego?
Eight questions and an optional face scan will settle this. Very unofficially.