With distinctive two-fingered claws, the remains of a previously unknown species of dinosaur suggest it looked like a bizarre mix of sloth, giraffe and cult movie hero Edward Scissorhands, according to new research.Paleontologists unearthed the fossil in Mongolia鈥檚 Gobi Desert, and the find is unique because the sheath of one of the digits is intact. Made of keratin (the same material as fingernails), the sheath reveals that the claw itself was much longer than the underlying bones. It is the largest claw of its kind found fully preserved in this way, researchers say.鈥淚t鈥檚 close to a foot in size,鈥� said paleontologist Darla Zelenitsky, an associate professor at the University of Calgary in Canada and coauthor of a study on the discovery published in the journal iScience. 鈥淭his is by far the biggest claw preserved for a dinosaur that has that keratinous sheath on it.鈥漈he dinosaur has been given the scientific name Duonychus tsogtbaatari, in honor of Mongolian paleontologist Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar. The genus name Duonychus means two claws in Greek.Duonychus tsogtbaatari was part of an awkward-looking group of dinosaurs known as therizinosaurs, which were part of the theropod family that includes Tyrannosaurus rex. Therizinosaurs, however, were plant-eaters or omnivores 鈥� not apex predators.The newly discovered dinosaur stood about 10 feet tall and would have weighed 573 pounds. It likely used its curved claws to reach vegetation, and it could have grasped branches up to 4 inches in diameter, according to the study.As well as two claws, the paleontologists also found fossilized parts of the prehistoric creature鈥檚 backbone, tail, hips, arms and legs. The fossil was discovered by staff at Mongolia鈥檚 Institute of Paleontology, part of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, several years ago, Zelenitsky said.Besides grasping, the two-fingered hands may have been used for display or as formidable weapons when needed, Zelenitsky said.鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 predators, but they could defend themselves with those claws. They were big and very sharp,鈥� she said.The best comparison for the distinctive digits among living animals would be the claws of a sloth, used for hanging onto tree branches, Zelenitsky added.Hands that looked like 鈥榖arbeque tongs鈥橳he discovery of Duonychus tsogtbaatari鈥檚 claw is an 鈥渆xciting鈥� find, said David Hone, a paleontologist and reader in zoology at Queen Mary University of London, who wasn鈥檛 involved in the research.鈥淚鈥檝e seen fragments from other specimens from the Gobi, but never a whole sheath like this. The kind of preservation here, which is common to the vast majority of dinosaur bearing formations, doesn鈥檛 usually preserve keratin,鈥� said Hone, who is the author of the 2024 book 鈥淯ncovering Dinosaur Behavior: What They Did and How We Know.鈥濃淪o that鈥檚 really important as we know there鈥檚 a pretty uncertain relationship between the keratin and the underlying bone,鈥� he added via email.Most therizinosaurs had long claws to grab and manipulate plants, giving them 鈥渢his reputation as Edward Scissorhands dinosaurs,鈥� said Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology at the University of Edinburgh, referring to the titular character in the 1990 hit movie who had large scissor blades for hands.鈥淏ut this one is unique in having only two fingers on each of its giant arms, so they really do look like oversized tongs you might use when barbequing,鈥� Brusatte, who wasn鈥檛 involved in the research, said.Only a few groups of dinosaurs had two fingers, most famously Tyrannosaurus rex, while single-fingered dinosaurs were even rarer, Brusatte added.鈥淏ut whereas T. rex probably wasn鈥檛 using its pathetic little arms for much, and definitely not for combat or subduing prey, these therizinosaurs were using them as an integral part of their feeding strategy,鈥� he added.Zelenitsky said the dinosaur likely had feathers as other therizinosaurs 鈥渨ere covered in feathers,鈥� adding to their 鈥渙dd-looking demeanour.鈥濃淭his is yet another example of a wonderful new dinosaur that we couldn鈥檛 have dreamed ever existed if we didn鈥檛 find its fossils,鈥� Brusatte said.
With distinctive two-fingered claws, the remains of a previously unknown species of dinosaur suggest it looked like a bizarre mix of sloth, giraffe and cult movie hero Edward Scissorhands, according to new research.
Paleontologists unearthed the fossil in Mongolia鈥檚 Gobi Desert, and the find is unique because the sheath of one of the digits is intact. Made of keratin (the same material as fingernails), the sheath reveals that the claw itself was much longer than the underlying bones. It is the largest claw of its kind found fully preserved in this way, researchers say.
鈥淚t鈥檚 close to a foot in size,鈥� said paleontologist Darla Zelenitsky, an associate professor at the University of Calgary in Canada and coauthor of a study on the discovery published in the journal iScience. 鈥淭his is by far the biggest claw preserved for a dinosaur that has that keratinous sheath on it.鈥�
The dinosaur has been given the scientific name Duonychus tsogtbaatari, in honor of Mongolian paleontologist Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar. The genus name Duonychus means two claws in Greek.
Yoshi Kobayashi/Hokkaido University via CNN Newsource
One of the dinosaur’s claws was unearthed with its keratinous sheath still preserved.
Duonychus tsogtbaatari was part of an awkward-looking group of dinosaurs known as therizinosaurs, which were part of the theropod family that includes Tyrannosaurus rex. Therizinosaurs, however, were plant-eaters or omnivores 鈥� not apex predators.
The newly discovered dinosaur stood about 10 feet tall and would have weighed 573 pounds. It likely used its curved claws to reach vegetation, and it could have grasped branches up to 4 inches in diameter, according to the study.
As well as two claws, the paleontologists also found fossilized parts of the prehistoric creature鈥檚 backbone, tail, hips, arms and legs. The fossil was discovered by staff at Mongolia鈥檚 Institute of Paleontology, part of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, several years ago, Zelenitsky said.
Besides grasping, the two-fingered hands may have been used for display or as formidable weapons when needed, Zelenitsky said.
鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 predators, but they could defend themselves with those claws. They were big and very sharp,鈥� she said.
The best comparison for the distinctive digits among living animals would be the claws of a sloth, used for hanging onto tree branches, Zelenitsky added.
Hands that looked like 鈥榖arbeque tongs鈥�
The discovery of Duonychus tsogtbaatari鈥檚 claw is an 鈥渆xciting鈥� find, said David Hone, a paleontologist and reader in zoology at Queen Mary University of London, who wasn鈥檛 involved in the research.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen fragments from other specimens from the Gobi, but never a whole sheath like this. The kind of preservation here, which is common to the vast majority of dinosaur bearing formations, doesn鈥檛 usually preserve keratin,鈥� said Hone, who is the author of the 2024 book 鈥淯ncovering Dinosaur Behavior: What They Did and How We Know.鈥�
鈥淪o that鈥檚 really important as we know there鈥檚 a pretty uncertain relationship between the keratin and the underlying bone,鈥� he added via email.
Masoto Hattori via CNN Newsource
A reconstruction of the two-clawed hand of the newly discovered dinosaur species Duonychus tsogtbaatari.
Most therizinosaurs had long claws to grab and manipulate plants, giving them 鈥渢his reputation as Edward Scissorhands dinosaurs,鈥� said Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology at the University of Edinburgh, referring to the titular character in the who had large scissor blades for hands.
鈥淏ut this one is unique in having only two fingers on each of its giant arms, so they really do look like oversized tongs you might use when barbequing,鈥� Brusatte, who wasn鈥檛 involved in the research, said.
Masato Hattori via CNN Newsource
An illustration of what Duonychus tsogtbaatari may have looked like in life, using its huge claws to grasp tree branches.
Only a few groups of dinosaurs had two fingers, most famously Tyrannosaurus rex, while , Brusatte added.
鈥淏ut whereas T. rex probably wasn鈥檛 using its pathetic little arms for much, and definitely not for combat or subduing prey, these therizinosaurs were using them as an integral part of their feeding strategy,鈥� he added.
Zelenitsky said the dinosaur likely had feathers as other therizinosaurs 鈥渨ere covered in feathers,鈥� adding to their 鈥渙dd-looking demeanour.鈥�
鈥淭his is yet another example of a wonderful new dinosaur that we couldn鈥檛 have dreamed ever existed if we didn鈥檛 find its fossils,鈥� Brusatte said.
