Deinonychus

Deinonychus was a fearsome predator that changed how we think about dinosaurs. Its name means "terrible claw." It lived about 115 million years ago. The discovery of Deinonychus helped prove that dinosaurs were fast and active, not slow and sluggish.

The Terrible Claw

Deinonychus was about 11 feet long and weighed about 160 pounds. Each foot had a large, curved claw about 5 inches long. It held these claws up while walking to keep them sharp. When attacking, it would kick forward and slash with these deadly weapons.

Pack Hunters

Several Deinonychus fossils have been found near a single large plant-eater called Tenontosaurus. This suggests they hunted in groups. Working together, a pack of Deinonychus could take down prey much bigger than themselves. They were also quite smart for dinosaurs.

Fun Facts

• Deinonychus is the dinosaur that the Jurassic Park "Velociraptors" are actually based on.
• Its discovery in 1964 started the "Dinosaur Renaissance," changing how scientists see dinosaurs.
• It could leap into the air and slash with both feet at once.

Did You Know?

Deinonychus probably had feathers covering most of its body. Scientist John Ostrom's discovery of this dinosaur led to the idea that birds are living dinosaurs!