Name:
Linhevenator (Greek for "Linhe hunter"); pronounced LIN-heh-veh-nay-tore
Habitat:
Plains of central Asia
Historical Period:
Late Cretaceous (80-70 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 5 feet long and 75 pounds
Diet:
Meat
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Moderate size; feathers; large claws on hind feet
About Linhevenator:
Not all feathered dinosaurs equipped with large, curved claws on their hind feet were true raptors. Witness Linhevenator, a recently discovered central Asian theropod that has been classified as a "troodont," that is, a close relative of the North American Troodon. One of the most complete troodont fossils ever found, Linhevenator may have made its living by digging into the ground for prey, and may even have been capable of climbing trees! (By the way, Linhevenator was a different dinosaur than Linhenykus and Linheraptor, both of which were also discovered in the Linhe region of Mongolia.)
