A new species of dinosaurs has been uncovered in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Known as Duonychus tsogtbaatari, this dinosaur possessed two feet long claw fingers on each hand, belonging to the Teresino Sauria.
Referred to as Duonychus, which is the Greek term for two claws, this dinosaur stood approximately 10 feet tall, weighed around 570 pounds, and was part of the Therizinosaurs group. It displayed a unique set of characteristics, including feathers.
These dinosaurs existed in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous period, spanning from 145 to 66 million years ago.
Despite having only two claws, researchers described Duonychus in a study published in the JournalIscience as an “effective climber” capable of reaching branches or vegetation masses up to five inches in diameter.
NBC News reached out to the research team for additional comments.
The fossil specimen was unearthed in 2012 by scientists at the Institute of Paleontology at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, dating back 90 million years and showcasing exceptional diversity.
Although the fossil was a partial skeleton missing the skull and legs, the hands were remarkably well-preserved. The Duonychus individuals were not fully grown, and their claws measured approximately 1 foot in length.
Therodinosaurus belonged to a group of herbivorous dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurus and spinosaurus, but mainly consumed leaves from large shrubs and trees.
The discovery of Duonychus and its two claws was described as remarkable by Michael Benton, a vertebrate paleontology professor at the University of Bristol, UK, who was not involved in the study.
Initially, dinosaurs possessed five fingers like humans, eventually losing two over time, leading to the majority having three fingers, Benton explained in an email to NBC News on Wednesday.
Benton highlighted that the number of digits did not impact their capabilities, mentioning that the third finger was shorter in length, potentially serving a specific purpose.
He emphasized the vast diversity and varied shapes and functions of dinosaurs, stating that they are incredibly diverse.
According to the study, the fossil records of Terazinosauria are particularly abundant in Cretaceous sediments in East Asia, particularly in Mongolia and China.
United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) recognizes the Gobi Desert in Mongolia as the largest dinosaur fossil repository in the world.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
