New species of therizinosaur found in Japan

[Prehistory Resurrection]

Meet Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus, discovered in marine deposits of Japan (Osoushinai Formation, Hokkaido, Japan). Image credit: Masato Hattori.

The remains are fragmentary but enough to identify it as a therizinosaur. Only a partial vertebra and partial right hand of one individual has been discovered.

Based on the finds, it appears to be an early therizinosaur.

[SidB]

Thanks for the info, @Prehistory Resurrection . Well, it's better than a mere 'tooth taxon'!

[Shonisaurus]

Magnificent illustration by Masato Haroti, one of the most interesting paleoartists from my point of view.

[Halichoeres]

My kingdom for a full skeleton of a derived therizinosaur.

[GojiraGuy1954]

My question is, how do we even know this is truly a therizinosaur? It's so fragmentary that I would just list it as some indeterminate theropod.

[GojiraGuy1954]

Unless there's something very distinct about Therizinosaur finger anatomy that i'm forgetting this doesn't scream any family in particular to me.

[Halichoeres]

Apparently the claws of therizinosaurs are really squashed from side to side. That might be enough to be diagnose it.

[brontosauruschuck]

Do you know what artist did the skeletal?

[Pliosaurking]

That's interesting, and that artwork is great!

[Halichoeres]

Do you know what artist did the skeletal?

B @brontosauruschuck Genya Masukawa