Calgary paleontologist part of discovery of new dinosaur with 30-centimetre claws

A University of Calgary paleontologist is part of a find of a new species of dinosaur. Darla Zelenitsky says the new species, Duonychus, as shown in this illustration, evolved to having only two claws from three which were used for gathering vegetation. The claws were up to 30 centimetres in length. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Calgary * MANDATORY CREDIT *

CALGARY — A University of Calgary paleontologist is part of a discovery of a new species of dinosaur with 30-centimetre-long claws found in a Mongolian desert.

Darla Zelenitsky says the remains of the therizinosaur were found in the Gobi desert in 2012 during the construction of a water pipeline.

She says the species normally had three-fingered hands used to gather vegetation for food.

Zelenitsky says this specimen evolved to have only two claws and has been named Duonychus.

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She says the Duonychus was an awkward-looking dinosaur because it walked upright, had long arms and weighed about 250 kilograms.

Zelenitsky says this is the only specimen that’s been found, but it’s believed to have existed in both Asia and North America.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2025.

The Canadian Press