Allosaurus Hand Claw

Stalking stegosaurs, ornithopods, and even small sauropods, the 30 foot (9 meter) long apex predator Allosaurus used strong arms, three manus claws, serrated teeth, and machete-like jaws to secure its spot atop the late Jurassic North American food chain. The powerfully built forelimbs of Allosaurus had three fingers per hand—as opposed to T. rex's two—terminating in large hooked and pointed claws. Morphology of the Allosaurus skeleton convincingly indicates that these hand claws were a vital adaptation in the killing, feeding, and survival of this Jurassic hunter.

Scientific debate continues to rage with respect to the hunting strategies these carnivores employed—some paleontologists believe Allosaurus was an intelligent, social creature that hunted in packs, while others theorize a more solitary existence. Either way, without the use of powerful, three-taloned hand claws like the beautiful specimen offered here, the acquisition of prey items would have proven vastly more difficult.