Falcarius

dinosaur · Early Cretaceous · therizinosaur · North America

Primitive Therizinosaur. Falcarius was one of the earliest members of the therizinosaur family, a group of dinosaurs known for their long, curved claws and unusual body shapes that looked different from most other dinosaurs.

Found in Utah. Scientists discovered Falcarius fossils in the Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah starting in 1999, making it an important discovery for understanding early therizinosaurs in North America.

125 Million Years Old. Falcarius lived during the Early Cretaceous period, a time when dinosaurs were still evolving into new and strange forms.

Young and Old Fossils. Scientists found multiple Falcarius specimens of different ages, from babies to fully-grown adults, which helps them understand how these dinosaurs grew and changed as they got older.

Fuzzy Hunter. Like other therizinosaurs, Falcarius probably had feathers covering its body and used its long claws to grab branches and dig for food, making it one of the oddest dinosaurs ever discovered.