| Deinonychus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Saurischia |
| Family | Dromaeosauridae |
| Genus | Deinonychus |
| Conservation Status | |
 Extinct | |
An artist's wiew of Deinonychus
Deinonychus is a genus of carnivorous Dromaeosaurids that lived in the Cretaceous period 115–108 million years ago. Only species that has been described is D. antirrhopus.
Characteristics
Deinonychus most probably had feathers as many other Dromaeosarids; geologically older microraptor and very closely related, geologically younger Velociraptor mongoliensis -- are known to have had feathers. Even its anatomy was extremely birdlike and there has even been speculation that Dromaeosaurids evolved from tree-dwelling, small dinosaurs -- a group that also branched to become birds.
It grew to around 3.4 metres (11 ft. 2 in.) long, and would weigh around 73 kilograms.
Behavior
The skull of Deinonychus is broader than that of some other Dromaeosaurids, suggesting that it used its jaws to hunt, rather than its 12cm hooked claw. It is tought that it was higly social animal that hunted in packs, making it able to bring down large prey like Tenantosaurus.
Gallery
An artist's wiew of Deinonychus