016--THERIZINOSAURUS CHELONIFORMIS

project: DINOSAURIA
specimen 016

THERIZINOSAURUS CHELONIFORMIS
"Turtle Formed Scythe Lizard"
Maleev, 1954
Length: 10m (32ft)
Weight: 5 tonnes (5.5 tons)
Location: Ömnögovi, Mongolia
Era: Campanian age, upper Cretaceous (70 million years ago)

Classification:
Dinosauria
Saurischia
Theropoda
Tetanurae
Avetheropoda
Coelurosauria
Maniraptoriformes
Maniraptora
Therizinosauria
Therizinosauridae

Notes:
Originally known only from its giant claws, Evgeny Maleev originally misinterpreted them as belonging to a giant turtle like creature. It wasn't until the Seventies that they were properly identified to belong to a theropod dinosaur.

UPDATE MAY 28, 2013:
I'm thinking this might be the most controversial update that I've done, as it's basically completely different. I was never, ever satisfied with my original Therizinosaurus and arrived at my original conclusion after being pressed for time. Therizinosaurs in general are hard for me to conceptualize as living, breathing creatures, and I think this new take is as close as I can get. The end result is very different from the original, so go here ( [link] ) to see the original and compare. I personally think the new one is much better, but you may not, no skin off my nose.