
Dinosaur and Vertebrate Paleo Art and Fossil Replicas |
Dino Russ's Lair is © 2005 By Russell J. Jacobson

2001. Acrylic on illustration board. 7"x9".
The word "bizarre" is often used to describe dinosaurs, but Therizinosaurus is bizarre by even dinosaur standards. It has the long neck, small head and tiny, leaf-shaped teeth of a sauropod. However, it isn't a sauropod but a theropod. Yet, unlike other theropods, it was a plant-eater! This dinosaur had other strange features, including a broad potbelly and incredibly long finger claws. Most paleontologists believe Therizinosaurus was the reptilian analog of the giant (extinct) ground sloth, and those huge claws were probably used to pull down leafy branches close to its mouth.
Note this image is copyright © by Joe Tucciarone and is used by his permission;. Permission to reproduce any image must be obtained by written request to Joe. Address requests to: INTERSTELL@aol.com
CONTENTS
Origins and faunasTriassic/ Jurassic theropods |
Cretaceous theropods |
'Dino-Birds'Birds |
SauropodsOrnithopods |
CeratopsiansPachycephalosaurs |
AnkylosaursStegosaurs |
2001. Acrylic on illustration board. 6"x9".
Stygimoloch was a small pachycephalosaur whose thick skull bristled with bony knobs and spikes. It undoubtedly engaged in head-butting, either for defense or to establish a pecking order during mating, or perhaps both. Its name derives from the river Styx ("stygi") and the name of a Semitic god, Moloch. In Greek mythology, the Styx was a mythical river flowing through the underworld near Hades (Hell). Stygimoloch's remains were discovered in the Hell Creek formation of Montana and Wyoming. According to myth, children were fed to the god Moloch. However, even if there had been any youngsters around in the Cretaceous, they would have been in no danger of being eaten by Stygimoloch since it was a vegetarian.
Note this image is copyright © by Joe Tucciarone and is used by his permission;. Permission to reproduce any image must be obtained by written request to Joe. Address requests to: INTERSTELL@aol.com
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Last Updated: 5/5/06 RJJ