Albertonykus borealis
Theropod
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
Hell Creek Formation
Wibaux County, Montana, USA

Rare 25mm Alvarezsaurid hand claw.

Albertonykus is a genus that belongs to the theropod dinosaur family, Alvarezsauridae, a strange group of rather obscure bird-like dinosaurs with a wide paleogeographic range (Asia, North America, and South America) during the Middle to Late Cretaceous. Like its relatives, it had a rather long snout, small teeth, and short but strong arms and hands – built like an anteater. These dinosaurs might have specialized in breaking into ant and termite nests to feed on the mass of insects.

Albertonykus remains are very rare in the Hell Creek Formation – a claw with a nice tip like this is an in-demand piece among collectors.