Description
Deinonychus antirrhopus Ostrom
Early Cretaceous
Cloverly Formation
Southern Montana, USA
22mm (1-1/8 inch) claw. Extremely rare. Only one we have ever had in 40 years
Deinonychus was a swift, intelligent predator from the Early Cretaceous, known for its sharp teeth, grasping hands, and most famously, its large, sickle-shaped claw on each foot. This curved claw was a deadly weapon, likely used for slashing or gripping prey. Finding a Deinonychus claw is incredibly rare—most fossils are fragmentary, and claws were often lost or damaged before fossilization. A well-preserved claw is a remarkable discovery, offering a direct connection to one of the most iconic raptors of prehistory—a razor-sharp relic from a lethal hunter.
