Big, Feathered Dinosaur Once Roamed Wyoming
- 10 years ago
66 million years ago, a big, feathered dinosaur roamed the area we now call Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas.
66 million years ago, a big, feathered dinosaur roamed the area we now call Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas.
Archaeologists have spent the last 8 years putting together some skeletons, and in the process they have learned quite a bit about the beast.
It stood a mere 5 feet tall and from head to tail spanned 11 feet.
What it lacked in stature, it made up for with its giant claws, razor-sharp jaws, and menacing appearance.
In fact, for years they referred to it as the ‘chicken from hell’ before settling on its formal name, Anzu wyliei.
Theories about its aggressive temperament were informed by the fact that among the specimens they found a broken rib and an arthritic toe.
They believe the foot problem was the result of having a tendon ripped from the bone.
It wasn’t all about killing smaller, weaker creatures, though. Due to the multi-purpose make-up of its beak they believe it also occasionally snacked on plants.
While the species has been compared to similar ones found in Asia, the researchers say the North American version is definitely different.
66 million years ago, a big, feathered dinosaur roamed the area we now call Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas.
Archaeologists have spent the last 8 years putting together some skeletons, and in the process they have learned quite a bit about the beast.
It stood a mere 5 feet tall and from head to tail spanned 11 feet.
What it lacked in stature, it made up for with its giant claws, razor-sharp jaws, and menacing appearance.
In fact, for years they referred to it as the ‘chicken from hell’ before settling on its formal name, Anzu wyliei.
Theories about its aggressive temperament were informed by the fact that among the specimens they found a broken rib and an arthritic toe.
They believe the foot problem was the result of having a tendon ripped from the bone.
It wasn’t all about killing smaller, weaker creatures, though. Due to the multi-purpose make-up of its beak they believe it also occasionally snacked on plants.
While the species has been compared to similar ones found in Asia, the researchers say the North American version is definitely different.