Fine Deltadroameus Dinosaur Hand Claw

Description: This is a fine example of a manual ungual (forefoot claw) from a theropod dinosaur known as Deltadromaeus agilis coming from the Lower Cretaceous Albian Stage deposits of the Kem-Kem Basin, Morocco. Claws are far less commonly found than teeth; indeed, while I have seen literally hundreds of teeth of this dinosaur offered, only a literal handful of claws are available. Although there are several repaired cracks, they detract little from the overall appearance.

In life, the claw would have been covered in a horny sheath which would have made it at least a third larger. This dinosaur was discovered in this same region by Gabrielle Lyon, wife of University of Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno in 1995. While the popularity of Jurassic Park leads some to use the term “raptor” for this taxon, the term has no taxonomic value.