Deinonychus was a very fast moving, agil, bird-like dinosaur. It was an agressive killer. It walked on 2 slinder, bird-like legs or bipedal Dinosaur. It's muscular legs had four-toed feet. The second toe had a 5" scythelike claw that could be swiveled up. The other toes had smaller claws. The Deimonychus could raise the second toe and run on the third and fourth toes. Its two long, strong arms had three-fingered hands, with large, sharp, curved claws. It was able to grasp its hand.
Deinonychus had a curved, flexible neck. It had a big head with sharp, serrated teeth in very powerful jaws. It could open its jaws wide, to help it get a large grip on its prey. Its teeth were like large fangs. It's rigided tail had bony rods running along the spine. These were stiffening devices. The tail was used for balance and to help with fast turning. It probably had keen eye sight. The Deinonychus was no longer than a small car, and no heavier than a human.
Deinonychus were carvivores or meat-eaters. They ate anything that they could slash and tear apart. They hunted in packes. They would attach very large animals. Sometimes, several would assult and kill other larger animals as a pack.
Deinonychus was part of the Dromaeosarids family, which are the smartest of the dinosaurs. This is in relation to brain size to body weight. This intellegence and their speed, made them a deadly preditor.
Deinonychus are from the oder of Saurischian or order of Lizard-hipped dinosaurs. Suborder is Theropod, infraorder Tetanurae. They were from the Dromaeosauridae family, or smallest dinosaurs. It was a cousin to the Velociraptor.
Deinonychus was first found by Grant E. Meyer and John H. Ostrum, of the Peabody Museum, of Yale University. The fossil was found in 1964, in Southern Montana, US. Several other fossils have been found and a Tenontasaurus was found with them. Possibly it had been their prey. The Deinonychus was been found in Montana and Wyoming USA.
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- Deinonychus on display at the American Museum of Natural History