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Therizinonychus
Topic Started: Jul 15 2013, 02:54 AM (76 Views)
Saberrex
Advanced Member
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Posted Image
A Therizinonychus in full display -Illustration by Saberrex

Therizinonychus
Therizinonychus
Meaning: Scythe Claw
Description: Large theropod with long claws
Species: T. obesus, T. obsenus
Family: Therizinosauroidea, Therizinosauridae
Length: 49-52 feet
Lifestyle: Fish-hunter, browser, grazer
Range: Eurasia, North America, South America

Distinguishing features: The largest of the therizinosaurs, this large and intelligent brute of a dinosaur carries the longest claws of any land animal, with the thumb claws being as much as six feet long. The body is covered in feathers that are gray with spots and stripes that primarily are black at rest. At will, the stripes and spots can be changed in color to blue, red, yellow, or green across the body. The feathers on the arms are patterned with more stripes than spots. This plumage is brighter in the smaller males with the females being larger by four feet and duller with less spots. Therizinonychus lives in small groups of up to twelve that are ruled by a dominant animal, either male or female, that gains its status through display fights. The leader determines where the group will go. The species is migratory, following the availability of food. Males and females come together in spring and pair for life, raising two to three chicks that are born live. The young leave their herd at three years and mature at seven years. They live for fifty years, but rarely reach old age unscathed.

Habits and Habitat: Were it not for a bizarre quirk of evolution, these dinosaurs’ feathers would be dull gray. The ammonites that make up 45% of their diet have bioluminescent photophores in their skin that they use for communication. When eaten the photophores are neutralized and then transferred to the animal’s feathers via the bloodstream. The photophores then become part of the dinosaur’s defense and communication, flashing on and off at will to confuse predators or to relay messages to distant animals of the same species. Therizinonychus feeds not only on ammonites but also fruits, grass, seeds, ferns, nuts, and other plant materials. It will also grub for worms, snag fish, and scavenge kills made by abelisaurs and tyrannosaurs. The herd faces a potential threat as a group with the adults forming a ring of claws deals with these predators by swiping if the attacker comes too close.
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