A team of paleontologists has discovered a previously unknown species of dinosaur with distinctive two-fingered claws, resembling a bizarre mix of sloth and giraffe features. The fossil, named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, was unearthed in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.
The find is unique due to the intact sheath of one of the digits, made of keratin, which reveals that the claw itself was much longer than the underlying bones. This is the largest claw of its kind found fully preserved in this way.
Duonychus tsogtbaatari stood about 10 feet tall and weighed 573 pounds, with a possible diet consisting of plants and branches up to 4 inches in diameter. The dinosaur’s two-fingered hands may have been used for display or as formidable weapons when needed.
The discovery is exciting, according to paleontologists, who note that the preservation of the keratin sheath is rare and sheds light on the dinosaur’s behavior and feeding strategy.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/25/science/two-fingered-claw-dinosaur-duonychus-tsogtbaatari-mongolia/index.html