Troodon

Skeletal reconstruction of Troodon

• North America
• Asia

Troodon is a genus theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America and Asia.

So far, a single species is known, the type species T. formosus. The type Stenonychosaurus inequalis, discovered the fossils of the south of the Canadian province of Alberta and have been described in 1932 by Charles Mortram Sternberg, was held for a long Saurornithoididae. It is now confirmed as a synonym of Troodon formosus.

As a first record applies a tooth which was discovered in 1856 and the name Troodon ( " wounds raging tooth" ) for the animal showed. After the initial discovery they were surprised that this was part of the dentition of a bird-like dinosaur with later findings ( 1979/1980 ). The body length was about 2.5 to 3 meters and the estimated weight of about 35 to 45 kg.

It is a dinosaur with large eye sockets, who was possibly nocturnal. In addition, the eyes were partially directed forward, which already made ​​possible most likely a stereoscopic vision. Some scientists hold Troodon formosus for the most advanced dinosaur and suggest a similar intelligence as in today's birds. The dinosaur had a relatively large brain ( 0.1 % of body weight ) and large nostrils, which indicate a strong sense of smell.

It is believed that the species lay two eggs at the same time every day or for longer periods, and these hatched by body and geothermal. The arms had three gripping toes, legs three toes, one toe like Deinonychus was a special tear or Sichelzehe.