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sharp-clawed runner
Therizinosaurus
Say it like this: “THER-i-ZIN-o-SAWR-us”
Therizinosaurus cheloniformis
Therizinosaurus ate plants and walked on two legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in Mongolia.
- When
- Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago
- Named in
- 1954 · Maleev, E. A.
- Hip height
- 3 m · 10 ft
- Length
- 9–10 m · 30–33 ft
- Weight
- 3–5 tonnes
- Found in
- Mongolia · Nemegt
- Food and walking
- Herbivore · Two legs
- Kind
- sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
- Family branch
- Therizinosauridae
The story in short
The genus Therizinosaurus dates to 1954, the year E. A. Maleev described it. The name means “scythe lizard.”
It lived in the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago. Finds come from Mongolia, including the Nemegt Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on two legs.
Published estimates put Therizinosaurus at a length near 9–10 m, hips about 3 m high, and a body mass around 3–5 tonnes.
On the family tree it sits in Therizinosauridae, among the theropod dinosaurs.
Close relatives
Duonychus
Duonychus tsogtbaatari
Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Santonian) · roughly 100.5 to 83.6 million years ago
Erlikosaurus
Erlikosaurus andrewsi
Late Cretaceous (Turonian · Coniacian · Santonian) · roughly 93.9 to 83.6 million years ago
Nanshiungosaurus
Nanshiungosaurus brevispinus
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago