In an astonishing discovery deep within Mongolia's Gobi Desert, paleontologists have unveiled a bizarre new species of dinosaur, aptly named *Duonychus tsogtbaatari*. This remarkable creature, which translates to "two claws" in Greek, boasts two impressive foot-long clawed fingers on each hand—making it stand out in the already peculiar family of therizinosaurs.

Standing approximately 10 feet tall and weighing in at around 570 pounds, *Duonychus* is a fascinating specimen that showcases an intriguing set of evolutionary traits. Members of the therizinosaur clade are known for their massive claws, believed to have adapted for stripping leaves from trees, leaf-shaped teeth, backward-facing pelvis, elongated necks tapering into small heads, and a feathery coat resembling down and quills.

Lead researcher Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, an associate professor at Hokkaido University Museum, expressed his astonishment, stating, "It kind of blew my mind. I felt this rush of excitement, like, ‘Wait… am I actually looking at something completely new here?’" His enthusiasm underscores the evolutionary anomalies that surround the therizinosaurs, which Kobayashi describes as "the weirdest dinosaurs out there." He emphasizes that *Duonychus* amplifies this weirdness, suggesting that evolution took a thrilling detour when crafting its features.

Therizinosaurs roamed the Earth during the Cretaceous Period, roughly 145 million to 66 million years ago, across regions of Asia and North America. Even with only two claws, *Duonychus* proved effective in foraging, capable of grasping branches and dense vegetation measuring nearly 5 inches across—an adaptation that allowed it to thrive in its environment.

Kobayashi astutely remarked that dinosaurs were far from static; they were continually experimenting with their biology, which led to a plethora of 'weird' adaptations—an observation echoed by co-author Darla Zelenitsky from the University of Calgary. She elucidated that *Duonychus*’s claws were not only “sharp and huge” at about one foot long, but also multifunctional—serving Well beyond just foraging, they may have played roles in self-defense or grappling.

What’s particularly fascinating is that despite belonging to the theropod group—which included notorious predators like Tyrannosaurus rex and Spinosaurus—*Duonychus* had a herbivorous diet, primarily consuming leaves from towering shrubs and trees.

The excavation of this remarkable specimen took place in 2012, thanks to researchers from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Paleontology—unearthing the fossil from the Bayanshiree Formation, a treasure trove of therizinosaurs known to date back 90 million years. Interestingly, while the fossil skeleton remains incomplete, missing a skull and legs, the hands are exceptionally preserved, hinting at the unique anatomical features of this dinosaur. Researchers noted that the individual was not fully grown, opening the door for further study into its life cycle and behavior.

Prominent palaeontologist Michael Benton from the University of Bristol, though not part of the research team, remarked on the discovery's significance, noting the unusual reduction of digits from five fingers—typical in dinosaurs—to just two. "Going down to two is highly unusual," he commented, highlighting that while the number of digits can seem trivial, it didn’t hinder its ability to effectively grasp and pull vegetation.

The discovery of *Duonychus* not only heightens our understanding of the diversity within therizinosaurs but also showcases the remarkable evolutionary journey of dinosaurs, reminding us that they were anything but ordinary. Fascinating details like this keep us yearning for more discoveries in the long-lost age of dinosaurs—stay tuned as we unveil more about the incredible world of paleontology!