Deinonychus

Deinonychus antirrhopus ("counterbalancing fearsome claw") is a wolf-sized, carnivorous dromaeosaurid dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous Clovery Formation of Montana. Its name, "Terrible claw", refers to the huge, sickle-shaped talons on the second toe. These claws were probably held retracted while the dinosaur walked on the third and fourth toes. It was commonly thought that Deinonychus would kick with the sickle claws to slash at its prey, but recent tests on reconstructions of similiar velociraptor talons suggest that the claw was used to stab, not slash. Like with all dromaeosaurids the tail was stiffened by a series of elongated bones (not tendons).

Related Topics:
Dromaeosaurid - Dinosaur - Species - Cretaceous - Montana - Velociraptor

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