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Description
1. Micronychus asius
Name meaning: “Asian small claw”
Height: 1 feet
Length: 30 inches
Weight: 15 ibs
Diet: omnivore
Habitat: Sao Khua Formation
Region: Thailand
Era: early Cretaceous (130 mya)

Sao Khua formation is a fossil formation located in Thailand. Most fossils there are partial or incomplete; with a single tooth or a certain section of a skeleton being uncovered. It wasn’t until 2024 when several college students removed a huge chunk of sandstone from the dig site and cleaned up the nearly complete skeleton. Originally they thought that the small turkey sized dinosaur was an ornithomimosaur. However, closer examinations of the arms and skull confirms that this dinosaur was actually a primitive form of Therizinosaur. The oldest representative to date.
So far only 2 specimens have been recovered from the dig site. The new dinosaur was called “Micronychus” because of its small size and small claws. These dinosaurs lived in a forested area with river banks. It was most likely an omnivore; feeding on leaves, insects, and small animals. Because of its small stature, it was preyed on by whatever predatory dinosaurs were around at the time. In order to protect themselves, they use their feathery coats to aid them in camouflage.

2. Therizinonychus cedro
Name meaning: “Cedar’s scythe claw”
Height: 3 feet
Length: 6 feet
Weight: 30 ibs
Diet: omnivore
Habitat: Cedar Mountain Formation
Region: Utah, United States
Era: early Cretaceous (116-110 mya)

Another primitive form of Therizinosaur was found in the same year as micronychus, except this dinosaur was found in the United States instead of Asia. The people who discovered the new dinosaur weren’t paleontologists; they were miners. They accidentally uncovered a possible communal nesting ground. 20 nests, multiple eggs, hatchings, and even adult dinosaurs were uncovered in great condition. The mining company contacted a natural history Museum to investigate the findings, and after several months of prepping and research; they concluded that the new dinosaur was another primitive Therizinosaur. They called the new dinosaur “Therizinonychus” or scythe claw.
Feathers weren’t preserved with any of the specimens, however the way one specimen was laying on top of its nest suggests that they do.
Therizinonychus was most likely an omnivorous dinosaur that primarily fed on plant material compared to other primitive Therizinosaurids. With the discovery of several adult individuals found in the same location; paleontologists speculate that they were social for the most part. Nesting in the same area would give Therizinonychus protection against egg thieves and predators alike.
Another species of the same genus was found in the Glen Rose Formation in Texas. The Texas variant is slightly larger than the cedar mountain ones. More research is needed.

Description
1. Micronychus asius
Name meaning: “Asian small claw”
Height: 1 feet
Length: 30 inches
Weight: 15 ibs
Diet: omnivore
Habitat: Sao Khua Formation
Region: Thailand
Era: early Cretaceous (130 mya)

Sao Khua formation is a fossil formation located in Thailand. Most fossils there are partial or incomplete; with a single tooth or a certain section of a skeleton being uncovered. It wasn’t until 2024 when several college students removed a huge chunk of sandstone from the dig site and cleaned up the nearly complete skeleton. Originally they thought that the small turkey sized dinosaur was an ornithomimosaur. However, closer examinations of the arms and skull confirms that this dinosaur was actually a primitive form of Therizinosaur. The oldest representative to date.
So far only 2 specimens have been recovered from the dig site. The new dinosaur was called “Micronychus” because of its small size and small claws. These dinosaurs lived in a forested area with river banks. It was most likely an omnivore; feeding on leaves, insects, and small animals. Because of its small stature, it was preyed on by whatever predatory dinosaurs were around at the time. In order to protect themselves, they use their feathery coats to aid them in camouflage.

2. Therizinonychus cedro
Name meaning: “Cedar’s scythe claw”
Height: 3 feet
Length: 6 feet
Weight: 30 ibs
Diet: omnivore
Habitat: Cedar Mountain Formation
Region: Utah, United States
Era: early Cretaceous (116-110 mya)

Another primitive form of Therizinosaur was found in the same year as micronychus, except this dinosaur was found in the United States instead of Asia. The people who discovered the new dinosaur weren’t paleontologists; they were miners. They accidentally uncovered a possible communal nesting ground. 20 nests, multiple eggs, hatchings, and even adult dinosaurs were uncovered in great condition. The mining company contacted a natural history Museum to investigate the findings, and after several months of prepping and research; they concluded that the new dinosaur was another primitive Therizinosaur. They called the new dinosaur “Therizinonychus” or scythe claw.
Feathers weren’t preserved with any of the specimens, however the way one specimen was laying on top of its nest suggests that they do.
Therizinonychus was most likely an omnivorous dinosaur that primarily fed on plant material compared to other primitive Therizinosaurids. With the discovery of several adult individuals found in the same location; paleontologists speculate that they were social for the most part. Nesting in the same area would give Therizinonychus protection against egg thieves and predators alike.
Another species of the same genus was found in the Glen Rose Formation in Texas. The Texas variant is slightly larger than the cedar mountain ones. More research is needed.