Claw Shape Split Therizinosaur Evolution

A nearly complete juvenile skeleton of Kayrasaurus changliensis shows extreme size and tooth counts and sits on an early branch of therizinosaurs; authors argue later species may have diverged into two groups where claw morphology (not just teeth or skulls) is the main differentiator. This reframes a specific morphological trait — claw shape — as a potential axis of evolutionary diversification within this peculiar, feathered herbivorous clade. — If single anatomical traits like claw form mark major evolutionary splits, paleontology's public narratives about how dinosaurs diversified and adapted may shift, affecting education, museum displays, and broader cultural interest in evolution.