Produced by the Population Genetics and Evolution class, Furman University

The Cretaceous: Deinonychus
Deinonychus, meaning “terrible claw”, was a lightly built but powerful bipedal carnivore with a flexible neck and a large head with sharp serrated teeth (Enchanted Learning 2009). Its average size was roughly ten feet in length, five feet in height, and it weighed up to 175 pounds and possessed a tail that contained bony rods running along its spine. This allowed for increased rigidity that could have been used for balance and fast turning. Its hands possessed three sharp and curved fingers while each foot contained four toes. The second toe was roughly five inches in length and sickle-like (Enchanted Learning 2009). While they were believed to be able to hunt alone, it has been speculated that they may have organized themselves in larger groups to take down larger prey. The fossilized remains of a battered Tenontosaurus contained bones from four different Deinonychus (Viegas 2010). It is also theorized that Deinonychus may have been covered in feathers. The dinosaurs close relatives contained feather-like structures and the anatomical shape and structure of its pelvic bones is similar to modern day birds (Viegas 2010). A proposed theory as to why the dinosaur possessed feathers has been attributed to the idea that they would have helped stabilize the animal when it leapt towards its prey and thereby making it a more efficient hunter (American Museum of Natural History 2010).

Page by Iggy Gaska
Skeletal Deinonychus leaping towards its prey. From: American Museum of Natural History.2010.

American Museum of Natural History.2010. Deinonychus. Accessed April 4, 2010.

Enchanted Learning. 2009. Deinonychus antirrhopus. Accessed April 4, 2010.

Viejas J. 2010.Deinonychus: One of the Deadliest Dinosaurs. Discovery Dinosaur Central. Accessed April 4, 2010.