Largest maniraptoran dinosaur

Maniraptorans were an important taxonomic group of theropod dinosaurs characterized by their long arms, breast bones, and (in most species) three-fingered hands. Interestingly, birds are classed as living maniraptorans. The largest maniraptoran dinosaur was Therizinosaurus cheloniformis, which existed around 70 million years ago during the late Cretaceous in what is now Mongolia. The maximum size of this species has been estimated at 10 m in length and 5 tonnes in weight.

This species is probably most famous for its long arms and its enormous finger-borne claws, which may have measured almost 1 m long. However, it is believed to have been herbivorous rather than carnivorous, despite being a theropod, so is therefore unlikely to have used its fearsome claws for active killing purposes, and may have used them instead for tearing apart termite hills.