Nothronychus was a herbivorous dinosaur discovered in North America and currently represents the most specialized North American tertiary genus. It lived about 91 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to paleontologists Jim Kirkland and Doug Wolfe who unearthed a new type of strange theropod dinosaur during their 2001 expedition. They named it Nothronychus mckinleyi, in reference to its huge lazy claws on one foot. The word McKinley came from Bobby McKinley, whose land this important find came from. Some specimens were later found in the Tropic Shale in Utah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any other tertiary, it had a long neck to help it reach the treetops and a small head to help it pick out specific branches. It had very long arms and impressive-looking sharp claws to grasp branches and bring them close to the small head of this gluttonous herbivore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It walked on two muscular hind legs but was unlikely to move fast. The tail was short and stubby, which helped it maintain balance on its hind legs. It lived in swampy forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothronychus was estimated to be about 4.5 - 6 m long, 3 - 3.6 m high and weighed 1,000 kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n