How Dinosaurs’ Claws Evolved With Time To Suit Their Environment

Posted by james luthor on December 18th, 2019

Fossils of dinosaur have always fascinated scientists. These extinct, massive animals were of different types and lived for millions of years. Their fossils enable scientists to study them and form a clear picture about them. Our fascination with these animals have led to TV cartoon shows about dinosaurs and characters in such shows, such as the red claw dinosaur, became famous among the viewers. Collectors keep their teeth, bones, and claws as these specimens are highly valued by people.

Dinosaurs claws were naturally thought to be used solely for killing. But recent exploration and study has pointed toward other mundane uses. Theropod dinosaurs, a category of dinosaurs to which the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor belonges, have been seen as carnivorous animals that used their sharp claws to capture prey.

But now, a careful look at the claws on the forelimbs of these dinosaurs have shown a variance between different species in terms of claws’ shape and form. It is pointing toward the claws being used for grasping and digging. Scientists observed the differences in claw shape to examine how they might have been used. The study was done on therizinosaurs, which walked the earth between 145 and 66 millions years ago. These dinosaurs have been described as massive creatures, which were up to 22ft tall with claws of about 19 inches in length. They had long necks and feather-like coating on the body. While their closest relatives were carnivores, the morphology of therizinosaurs’ jaw and teeth hint that they might have been herbivores.

Scientists used computer models to create different possible functions for different species to see how different claws could have been used. During this study, dinosaur claws were compared with the claws of present-day animals.

It is said that evolution led theropod groups, including therizinosaurs, from being meat eaters to become herbivores, which used plant to survive. This period of evolution caused these dinosaurs to develop claws suited to their environment. They used these claws for piercing, digging, and grasping. Once they switched from being meat eaters to plant eaters, therizinosaurs’ claws changed their shape to adapt to new life. Scientists say that that this study shows that adaptation in regards to diet played a key role in the evolution of these dinosaurs and their ultimate change into modern birds.

You can buy genuine claws of Cretaceous and Jurassic dinosaurs online. These claws have millions of evolution in them. Possessing them will be a great feeling for all fossil enthusiasts.

Author’s Bio: The author is a blogger. This article is about dinosaur claws evolution.