Deinonychus antirrhopus

†Deinonychus antirrhopus ('terrible claw, counterbalancing') is a dromaeosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous Cloverly and Antlers Formations of the USA. Roughly 3.4 m long and 70 kg, its discovery by John Ostrom in 1969 revolutionized understanding of dinosaur physiology, supporting active warm-blooded behavior. Its sickle claw was likely used to pin prey.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Deinonychus antirrhopus was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Early Mesozoic Era

Deinonychus antirrhopus lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145,0 to 100,5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.