Anzu (Chirostenotes/Caenagnathid) Hand Claw

Anzu (Chirostenotes/Caenagnathid) Hand Claw 

4⅛ inches

Length along outside curve

4 inches straight-line measurement

66 MILLION YEARS BP

Late Cretaceous

Late Maastrichthian

Hell Creek Formation

Harding County, South Dakota

Chirostenotes was a fast running bird-like dinosaur with long arms and wicked claws. It has no teeth, but probably had a sharp beak much like a modern raptorial bird. It was a carnivore or scavenger, as its sharp beak and claws were able to strip flesh, while its long legs afforded it great speed to get away or chase down prey.