A recent bone acquisition has helped scientists determine what the Deinocheirus mirificus’ looked like, and it turns out the dino was stranger than ever imagined.
When scientists first discovered skeletal pieces belonging to the Deinocheirus mirificus dinosaur, they seemed unusual.
A recent bone acquisition has helped fill in the gaps about the dino’s appearance, and it turns out the 7-ton beast was stranger-looking than ever imagined.
The first set of fossils were unearthed about 50 years ago, and included shoulder bones and front limbs.
These fossils had unique enough features for researchers to declare a new genus and species had been found.
Beyond that, opinions differed. Some said that due to its large arms it was probably some kind of giant tree sloth.
Others speculated it was more of an ostrich-like creature.
Korean scientists have finally gained access to enough remains to set the record straight.
They’ve determined the dinosaur didn’t resemble any particular known animal, but rather a combination of them.
It had a duck-like bill, a hump similar to a camel’s, and an extended neck comparable to those found on ostriches.
Moving gracefully wasn’t the creature's strong suit, so it’s believed that it spent most of its time hanging around the shores of rivers, snatching up animals and fish that wandered by.
