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Troodon

Dinosaur profile

Troodon

CarnivoreLate CretaceousSmall Theropod

Pronunciation

Tru-don

Meaning

Wounding tooth

Type

Small Theropod

Length

2 meters long

Period

Late Cretaceous

Years

74-65 million years ago

Location

USA

Diet

Carnivore

About Troodon

Troodon is a small, bird-like dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 70-65 million years ago. It was a member of the group of dinosaurs known as theropods, which also included larger carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus and Allosaurus. Troodon was relatively small, measuring about 6-7 feet (1.8-2.1 meters) in length and weighing around 50-100 pounds (23-45 kilograms). It had long, thin legs and arms, and its fingers and toes were equipped with sharp claws. Its head was relatively large and contained large, forward-facing eyes, which may have been used for hunting at night. Its diet likely consisted of small prey, such as lizards, mammals, and other small dinosaurs. Despite its small size, Troodon was an intelligent dinosaur and may have been one of the most intelligent of all dinosaurs. Its brain was relatively large compared to its body size, and it had a well-developed optic lobe, which is associated with visual processing and spatial awareness.

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