Therizinosaurus is a big theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous duration that lived approximately 70 million years ago in contemporary Mongolia. Current studies categorized Therizinosaurus within the Therizinosauridae family, suggesting a mainly herbivorous diet plan despite being a theropod. This article aims to check out the discovery, anatomy, and paleobiology of Therizinosaurus, shedding light on its life and special appearance.
Artists entertainment of Therizinosaurus. Credit: PaleoNeolitic/Wikimedia Commons
Discovery and History
Unlike other theropods, Therizinosaurus arms were robust, supporting 3 fingers each ending in massive, stiffened claws, measuring over 50 cm. These claws are the longest known of any land animal. Unlike a predators sharp talons, Therizinosaurus likely utilized its claws for foraging, not searching prey. This lines up with the wider understanding of the Therizinosauridae household as primarily plant-eaters.
Therizinosaurus arm– human size contrast. Credit: PaleoNeolitic/Wikimedia Commons
The hindlimbs ended in four weight-bearing toes, diverging from the typical theropod foot structure for a stable feeding posture. Its skeletal structure, presumed from associated therizinosaurids and limited fossil evidence, indicate a creature with sporadic feathering, a greatly pneumatized vertebral column, and a backward-oriented hips.
In 1948, a Mongolian field expedition uncovered the very first Therizinosaurus fossils in the Gobi Desert. Subsequent findings in the 1970s and 1960s added limbs and other bones to the image, slowly shifting the understanding of Therizinosaurus from a reptilian oddity to a completely recognized dinosaur.
Therizinosaurus is the largest therizinosaurid. It reached lengths of 9-10 meters and stood 4-5 meters tall, weighing over 5 heaps. Its defining features were a long neck, large upper body, and a beaked mouth, which reflect a body meant for high surfing. The neck would have permitted it to reach foliage other dinosaurs could not, while its wide upper body suggests a big gastrointestinal tract necessary for processing plant material. It likely moved gradually, depending on its size, claws, and potentially social habits for defense.
Description
Early interpretation of Erlikosaurus, a therizinosaurid. Credit: Arthur Weasley/Wikimedia Commons
The genus is primarily understood from these few but distinct bones, with its enormous manual unguals (claw bones) being especially significant. Early analyses differed extremely, with some scientists suggesting it might have been a sauropodomorph or ornithischian. However, the discovery of associated therizinosaurids later on helped clarify its place as a theropod, albeit one with distinct adjustments.
Museum cast of Therizinosaurus manus. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Way of life and Behavior
Paleoecology
Therizinosaurus in their natural environment. Credit: ABelov2014/Wikimedia Commons
Artists entertainment of Therizinosaurus. Credit: Mariolanzas/Wikimedia Commons
Therizinosaurus lived in the Nemegt Formation in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. Dated to the Late Cretaceous duration, around 70 million years ago, this area used a diverse and abundant ecosystem for Therizinosaurus and its contemporaries.
The social behavior of Therizinosaurus remains a subject of argument, with restricted proof to suggest whether it was singular or gregarious. Nevertheless, the presence of other large herbivores in the same environment raises the possibility of some level of social interaction, whether cooperative or competitive.
Therizinosaurus dealing with off a Tarbosaurus. Credit: Chased by Dinosaurs/BBC
The development is also known for its variety of dinosaur species. Therizinosaurus shared its environment with the big theropod Tarbosaurus, which might have preyed upon Therizinosaurus, and the enormous ornithomimosaur Deinocheirus. Other significant contemporaries include Gallimimus, Saurolophus, Gigantoraptor, Alioramus, Nemegtosaurus, Tarchia, and Homalocephale.
Therizinosaurus physical qualities suggest a way of life quite unlike that of other theropods. Its massive claws, formerly a source of much speculation, are now thought to have been used more for greenery management than predation. This lines up with the theory that, despite its fearsome look, Therizinosaurus was primarily herbivorous. The claws likely served to pull branches better or strip leaves, assisting in a diet plan of high foliage.
Its limb structure and enormous body show that Therizinosaurus did not rely on speed for defense or foraging. Despite its herbivorous diet, the role of Therizinosaurus claws in defense can not be totally discounted. While their primary function appears to have actually been for foraging, their sheer size may have made them efficient versus predators looking to score a kill.
Therizinosaurus in Popular Culture
Therizinosaurus has made significant looks in various media. Its distinct qualities, especially its towering size and long claws, have actually made it an interesting topic for representation in films, tv series, and documentaries.
Movies & & Documentaries
In “Jurassic World Dominion”, Therizinosaurus made its on-screen launching, stalking and practically eliminating Claire Dearing. In a climactic fight, Rexy presses the Giganotosaurus into Therizinosaurus deadly claws, resulting in the Gigas death.
In “Prehistoric Planet” Season 1, juvenile Therizinosaurus were illustrated attempting to go up to a beehive. This scene from the episode “Forests” highlights their hypothesized behavior and diet in a natural setting.
Wild Therizinosaurus. Credit: ARK: Survival Evolved
In “ARK: Survival Evolved”, Therizinosaurus is illustrated as a flexible dinosaur, capable of both “Delicate Harvesting” and “Power Harvesting”. These abilities enable it to collect a wide variety of resources efficiently, from wood and meat to berries and fiber, making it highly valued for farming functions within the video game. Its aggressive nature suggests players need to approach it with caution, using strategic taming methods to convert it from a risk to a powerful ally.
InGen Therizinosaurus looking for Claire. Credit: Jurassic World Dominion
In “Chased by Dinosaurs”, in an episode entitled “The Giant Claw”, Nigel Marven searches for Therizinosaurus in Cretaceous Mongolia. He at first believes it to be a huge predator due to its massive claws but finds that Therizinosaurus is in fact a giant plant-eating theropod. Throughout his journey, Marven encounters different other dinosaurs, including Saurolophus, Protoceratops, Mononykus, Velociraptor, and Tarbosaurus, before lastly finding the Therizinosaurus and knowing of its real nature.
Video Games
In “Dino Crisis”, Therizinosaurus is come across in the Facility B3 location, presenting a significant obstacle to gamers. It utilizes its big and strong jaws to get Regina and toss her against walls or the floor, showcasing its strength and aggressiveness. Neither computer game portray Therizinosaurus clinically precise.
” The Dino King” is a CGI animated movie that follows the life of a Tarbosaurus called Speckles. Therizinosaurus looks like an enormous antagonist, being incredibly hostile towards a curious juvenile Speckles right before his family saves him. Later on in the film, Therizinosaurus is even featured battling a Tyrannosaurus to the death.
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Unlike other theropods, Therizinosaurus arms were robust, supporting three fingers each ending in huge, stiffened claws, determining over 50 cm. Regardless of its herbivorous diet, the role of Therizinosaurus claws in defense can not be totally discounted. Therizinosaurus shared its environment with the large theropod Tarbosaurus, which might have preyed upon Therizinosaurus, and the massive ornithomimosaur Deinocheirus. In “Chased by Dinosaurs”, in an episode entitled “The Giant Claw”, Nigel Marven searches for Therizinosaurus in Cretaceous Mongolia. He at first thinks it to be a substantial carnivore due to its huge claws but discovers that Therizinosaurus is actually a giant plant-eating theropod.
