There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
--- Peter Broekhuijsen ---

  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Deinonychus antirrhopus

Canada DinoFan83 Offline
Regular Member
***
#1

Deinonychus (from Greek: deinós, 'terrible' and ónux, 'claw') is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur with one described species, Deinonychus antirrhopus. This species, which could grow up to 3.4 meters (11 ft) long, lived during the early Cretaceous Period, about 115–108 million years ago (from the mid-Aptian to early Albian stages). Fossils have been recovered from the U.S. states of Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and Oklahoma, in rocks of the Cloverly Formation, Cedar Mountain Formation and Antlers Formation, though teeth that may belong to Deinonychus have been found much farther east in Maryland.
Based on the few fully mature specimens, Deinonychus could reach 3 meters in length, with a skull estimated at 41 cm, a hip height of 87 cm, and a weight estimated at 70 kg. The proportionally large skull was equipped with powerful jaws lined with around seventy curved, blade-like teeth. Both the skull and the lower jaw had fenestrae (skull openings) which reduced the weight of the skull. In Deinonychus, the antorbital fenestra, a skull opening between the eye and nostril, was particularly large.
Deinonychus possessed large, well developed forelimbs and "hands" (manus) with three fingers and very sharp claws on each hand. The first digit was shortest and the second was longest. The hindlimbs were robust and powerful, with each hind foot bearing a particularly large sickle-shaped claw on the second digit - the animal's namesake - that was probably used during predation. No feather impressions have ever been found in association with fossils of Deinonychus, but related taxa like Microraptor, Velociraptor, and Dakotaraptor preserve evidence of feathers so it is very likely that Deinonychus had them too.
Deinonychus' lower leg length was not particularly long for its femur length, indicating that while being far from slow-moving, it was not especially adapted for running on a regular basis. This is partially attributable to an unusually short metatarsus (upper foot bones). The ratio is actually larger in smaller individuals than in larger ones. John Ostrom, the scientist who named Deinonychus, suggested that the short metatarsus may be related to the function of the sickle claw, and used the fact that it appears to get shorter as individuals aged as support for this. He interpreted all these features—the short second toe with enlarged claw, short metatarsus, etc.—as support for the use of the hind leg as an offensive weapon, where the sickle claw would strike downwards and backwards, and the leg pulled back and down at the same time, slashing and tearing at the prey. Ostrom suggested that the short metatarsus reduced overall stress on the leg bones during such an attack, and interpreted the unusual arrangement of muscle attachments in the Deinonychus leg as support for his idea that a different set of muscles was used in the predatory stroke than in walking or running. Therefore, Ostrom concluded that the legs of Deinonychus represented a balance between running adaptations needed for an agile predator, and stress-reducing features to compensate for its unique foot weapon.
1 user Likes DinoFan83's post
Reply

Canada DinoFan83 Offline
Regular Member
***
#2

Deinonychus skeletal by Scott Hartman.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Deinonychus skeletal and life restoration by Greg Paul.

*This image is copyright of its original author



*This image is copyright of its original author

Deinonychus skeletal by GetAwayTrike.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Deinonychus mounted skeleton by Jonathan Chen on Wikimedia Commons.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Deinonychus life restoration by Fred Wierum on Wikimedia Commons.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Deinonychus skull by Rob Hurson on Wikimedia Commons.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Deinonychus hand claws by James St. John on Wikimedia Commons.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Deinonychus foot claws by Didier Descouens on Wikimedia Commons.

*This image is copyright of its original author
3 users Like DinoFan83's post
Reply

United Kingdom Spalea Online
Wildanimal Lover
******
#3

Before the first Jurassik Park movie (1993) we, people, all believe that dinosaurs were slowly-moved and dumb reptiles. After this movie one, and especially because the deynonychus vision it proposed, we realized that we were quite wrong about them. They clearly were able to hunt very efficiently as pack hunters. Were they "intelligent" animals ? Even if it isn't a definitive one, our vision since this big cinematographic event (because even if it isn't a perfect movie, it was seen by so numerous people that it provoked a questioning of depiction we had toward dinosaurs) has never been the same. Yes, "We thought wrong" but how were they ? And we don't stop seeking...







Reply

United Kingdom Spalea Online
Wildanimal Lover
******
#4

An other video about the deinonychus which, discovered in 1931 but studied 30-40 years after, revolutionized the view we had on dinosaurs.








" A look into Deinonychus, the raptor who's discovery sparked a radical change in the way we understood dinosaurs and their behaviour. "
1 user Likes Spalea's post
Reply






Users browsing this thread:
1 Guest(s)

About Us
Go Social     Subscribe  

Welcome to WILDFACT forum, a website that focuses on sharing the joy that wildlife has on offer. We welcome all wildlife lovers to join us in sharing that joy. As a member you can share your research, knowledge and experience on animals with the community.
wildfact.com is intended to serve as an online resource for wildlife lovers of all skill levels from beginners to professionals and from all fields that belong to wildlife anyhow. Our focus area is wild animals from all over world. Content generated here will help showcase the work of wildlife experts and lovers to the world. We believe by the help of your informative article and content we will succeed to educate the world, how these beautiful animals are important to survival of all man kind.
Many thanks for visiting wildfact.com. We hope you will keep visiting wildfact regularly and will refer other members who have passion for wildlife.

Forum software by © MyBB