Deinocheirus mirificus

†Deinocheirus mirificus ('wonderful terrible hand') is the type species of Deinocheirus. First described in 1965 from arms alone, complete specimens found in 2014 revealed a 11-m, ~6-tonne hump-backed giant with a broad toothless bill, indicating omnivory. Its elongated neural spines formed a pronounced sail and its stomach contents included fish and plant material.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Deinocheirus mirificus was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Deinocheirus mirificus lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.