Deinonychus Facts for Kids

A Picture of a Deinonychus
  • Species Type: Deinonychus antirrhopus
  • Type of Dinosaur: Dromaeosaurid theropod
  • Period: Early Cretaceous
  • Diet: Meat (carnivorous)
  • Length: Up to 11 feet
  • Weight: Up to 220 pounds
  • First Discovered: 1931

21 Deinonychus Facts for Kids

  1. The Deinonychus was discovered by American paleontologist Barnum (Mr. Bones) Brown in 1931.
  2. The Deinonychus was first discovered in the Cloverly Formation in North America.
  3. The Deinonychus got its scientific name Deinonychus antirrhopus in 1969, from John Ostrom.
  4. The name Deinonychus means: “Terrible Claw”.
  5. The name Deinonychus is pronounced: “dye-NON-ik-us”.
  6. The Deinonychus was part of a group of dinosaurs known as dromaeosaurid theropods.
  7. Dromaeosaurids were a group of dinosaurs that had features, which means Deinonychus had feathers.
  8. Deinonychus lived during the Early Cretaceous Period, between 115 and 108 million years ago.
  9. Paleontologists have confirmed recovered Deinonychus specimens in the Cloverly Formation, Cedar Mountain Formation and Antlers Formation.
  10. Paleontologists only recognize one species of Deinonychus and that is Deinonychus antirrhopus.
  11. The type specimen for the Deinonychus is specimen YPM 5205.
  12. The Deinonychus was a carnivore that ate meat.
  13. Estimates put the length of a Deinonychus up to 11 feet.
  14. Estimates put the weight of a Deinonychus up to 220 pounds.
  15. Estimates put the bite force of a Deinonychus between 900 and 1,800 pounds (pound-force).
  16. Paleontologists haven’t found any evidence that supports the Deinonychus hunting in packs.
  17. The Deinonychus is most recognizable by the large talon found on the second toe of each hind foot.
  18. Paleontologists believe the Deinonychus had around 60 teeth in its mouth.
  19. The Deinonychus is in the same family as the Velociraptor.
  20. In 2015, a research paper suggested that young Deinonychus might have been capable of some form of flight.
  21. The belief that birds are descendants of dinosaurs was help supported by studies done on the Deinonychus.

Additional Resources on Deinonychus

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