A recent study indicates that a newly discovered dinosaur fossil possesses unique two-fingered claws, exhibiting a peculiar appearance that combines characteristics of sloths, giraffes, and the protagonist of the film "Edward Scissorhands." This unprecedented species offers a fresh perspective for paleontological research, potentially reshaping our understanding of dinosaur evolution.
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03-30, 2025Paleontologists excavated this fossil in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, and its uniqueness lies in the well-preserved keratinous sheath of one of its finger claws. The keratinous sheath, composed of keratin (the same substance as fingernails), reveals that the claw itself was much longer than the bone beneath it. Researchers claim this is the most complete dinosaur claw of its kind ever discovered, providing valuable insights into the claw's original size and shape.
Darla Zelenitsky, an associate professor at the University of Calgary and co-author of the discovery published in the journal iScience, stated, "It's nearly a foot (30 centimeters) long. This is by far the largest dinosaur claw ever preserved with the keratin sheath on it." The dinosaur was named Duonychus tsogtbaatari in honor of Mongolian paleontologist Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar. The genus name Duonychus means "two claws" in Greek, reflecting its distinctive feature.
Duonychus tsogtbaatari is a member of the Therizinosauria clade of dinosaurs, which is part of the Theropod suborder, to which Tyrannosaurus Rex also belongs. However, therizinosaurs were herbivorous or omnivorous animals, not apex predators. Research suggests that this newly discovered dinosaur was about three meters tall and weighed approximately 260 kilograms, likely using its curved claws to obtain vegetation and grasp branches up to 10 centimeters in diameter.
In addition to the two claws, paleontologists also discovered fossilized parts of the creature's vertebrae, tail, hips, arms, and legs. Zelenitsky stated that these fossils were discovered several years ago by staff at the Paleontological Institute of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. Zelenitsky added that besides grasping, the two-fingered hands may also have been used for display or as powerful weapons when necessary. "They weren't predators, but they could have defended themselves with these claws. They're big and sharp," she said, emphasizing their potential defensive capabilities.
Zelenitsky added that among existing animals, the closest comparison to this unique claw is that of a sloth, which uses its claws to hang from branches. David Hone, a paleontologist and zoology lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, stated that the discovery of Duonychus tsogtbaatari's claws is an "exciting" find. He was not involved in the study. Hone said, "I've seen fragments from other specimens from the Gobi, but never anything with complete keratinous sheaths like this. This kind of preservation is common in the vast majority of dinosaur-bearing formations, which usually don't preserve keratin."
Hone added via email, "So this is really important as we know there is a fairly uncertain relationship between the keratin and the bone underneath." Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology at the University of Edinburgh, stated that most therizinosaurs had long claws for grabbing and manipulating plants, earning them the title of "Edward Scissorhands dinosaurs." He was referring to the protagonist of the 1990 hit film, who had giant scissor blades instead of hands. Brusatte said, "But what's unique about this dinosaur is that it only has two fingers on each giant arm, so they really look like oversized barbecue tongs you might use at a cookout." Brusatte was not involved in the study.
Brusatte added that only a few groups of dinosaurs had two fingers, most famously Tyrannosaurus Rex, while single-fingered dinosaurs are even rarer. "But T. rex probably wasn't using its puny little arms for much, certainly not for fighting or subduing prey, whereas these therizinosaurs were using them as an integral part of their foraging strategy," he added. Zelenitsky said that this dinosaur may have had feathers, as other therizinosaurs "were covered in feathers," adding to their "weird look." Brusatte said, "This is yet another example of a wonderful new dinosaur that we would never have dreamed existed if we hadn't found its fossils," highlighting the importance of paleontological discoveries in expanding our understanding of prehistoric life.
