Hall of Dinosaurs

Theropod Dinosaurs

The Theropod dinosaurs were a diverse group of carnivorous animals. They include smaller forms like Deinonychus and Dilophosaurus as well the larger forms like Tyrannosaurus rex and Allosaurus. This group of dinosaurs includes the bird lineage.

Theropods have many adaptations for eating meat. For example, Tyrannosaurus has a meat-cleaver face to inflict maximal damage. Deinonychus, shown below, had a claw on its second digit of the foot that it would use to attack prey. Deinonychus would use its long arms and hands to latch on to prey while slashing with its foot.

Some Paleontologists think that the long arm and hand of Deinonychus was coopted by the first birds for flight.


You may walk back down the hallway to the the Dinosaur Antechamber..