Two-fingered dinosaur used its enormous claws to eat leaves

Remarkable Two-Fingered Dinosaur Species Unearthed in Mongolia

Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a novel dinosaur species at a construction site in Mongolia, distinguished by possessing the largest, completely intact claw ever documented. This bipedal, plant-eating creature is characterized by having only two digits on each hand, which it may have employed to seize branches and draw foliage to its mouth.

Fossil Discovery and Identification

The 90-million-year-old fossil specimen, comprising portions of the pelvis, both arms and hands, and numerous vertebrae, was unearthed near Khanbogd in the Gobi Desert in 2012. Following thorough examination, it has been formally classified and named Duonychus tsogtbaatari. The genus designation, Duonychus, translates to “two claws,” while the species name recognizes Mongolian paleontologist Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar for his contributions to the field.

Duonychus: A Therizinosaur Relative

Duonychus is classified as a smaller relative of Therizinosaurus, a prominent dinosaur featured in the film Jurassic World Dominion. Researchers, including Yoshitsugu Kobayashi from Hokkaido University in Japan, estimate that Duonychus reached a length of approximately 3 meters and weighed around 270 kilograms.

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Significance of the Two-Fingered Feature

Kobayashi emphasizes the importance of this finding, stating, “The discovery of Duonychus tsogtbaatari is significant because it represents the first identified therizinosaur with solely two fingers.” He further noted, “The majority of theropods, including other therizinosaurs, retained three functional fingers, rendering the discovery of a species that lost a digit quite unexpected.”

Evolution of Two-Fingered Theropods

Notably, five distinct theropod groups independently evolved to possess only two fingers, with Tyrannosaurus being the most widely recognized example.

Unusually Preserved Claws

The claws of Duonychus are nearly 30 centimeters in length. Remarkably, the claw sheaths, composed of keratin – the same material as human fingernails – have been preserved in this fossil.

Keratin Preservation: A Rare Occurrence

“Typically, keratin does not fossilize, as it decomposes considerably faster than bone,” Kobayashi explained. “In most instances when dinosaur claws are discovered, only the bony core remains. However, in life, the complete claw would have been encased in a substantial keratin sheath, making it both longer and more curved.”

Surprise Discovery for Paleontologists

Darla Zelenitsky, a team member from the University of Calgary in Canada, expressed surprise at the discovery of a two-fingered therizinosaur: “Our initial reaction was astonishment, as this characteristic is truly unusual for these types of dinosaurs.”

Implications of Claw Structure

Zelenitsky highlighted the exceptional preservation of the claw: “This specimen represents the largest, fully preserved, three-dimensional dinosaur claw ever found, by a considerable margin. Unlike typical fossils where true claws are preserved merely as outlines on surrounding rock, this claw exhibits a three-dimensional structure, forming a sheath around the underlying finger bone, analogous to the paws of canines and felines.”

Adaptation for Herbivorous Diet

Researchers propose that these specialized claws developed as an adaptation for grasping and manipulating vegetation. Kobayashi suggests that the reduced number of fingers may have resulted in increased strength and flexibility in each digit, allowing for a firmer, more controlled grip.

Enhanced Grasping Mechanism

“The curved claws and extreme flexion suggest an enhanced ability to hook onto branches or clusters of leaves,” Kobayashi elaborated. “While three fingers may have been cumbersome, two fingers afforded a more precise and efficient grasping mechanism.”