Therizinosaurus

Therizinosaurus had the longest claws of any animal in history. Each claw could be up to 3 feet long! Its name means "scythe lizard." It lived about 70 million years ago in what is now Mongolia.

Incredible Claws

The claws of Therizinosaurus were as long as a child's arm. They looked like giant swords or the blades of a scythe. Despite these scary-looking claws, Therizinosaurus was probably a plant eater. It may have used its claws to pull down tree branches to eat leaves.

A Strange Dinosaur

Therizinosaurus was about 33 feet long and could be 16 feet tall. It was a theropod, the same group as T. Rex and Velociraptor. But unlike its meat-eating relatives, it ate plants. It had a small head, a long neck, and a big, round belly for digesting plants.

Fun Facts

• Its claws were 3 feet long — the longest of any animal that has ever lived.
• When its claws were first found, scientists thought they belonged to a giant turtle.
• Despite being related to meat-eaters, Therizinosaurus was a gentle plant eater.

Did You Know?

Therizinosaurus may have used its enormous claws for defense against predators like Tarbosaurus, a relative of T. Rex that lived in the same area!