Can anyone explain the adaptation of the "back toe" / claw on some dinosaurs? What was the purpose of the back toe with claw? Below is a list of dinosuars that I have found with this adaptation, with other characteristics.


Edmontosaurus herbivore quadroped cretaceous period
Troodon carnivore biped cretaceous
Daspletosaurus carnivore biped cretaceous
Albertosaurus carnivore biped cretaceous
Herrasaurus carnivore biped triassic
Eoraptor carnivore biped triassic
Coelophisis carnivore biped triassic
Allosaurus carnivore biped jurassic
T-rex carnivore biped cretaceous
Suchomimis carnivore biped cretaceous
Irritator carnivore biped cretaceous
Spinosaurus carnivore biped cretaceous
Oviraptor omnivore biped cretaceous
Utahraptor carnivore biped cretaceous
Bambiraptor carnivore biped cretaceous
Protarchaepteryx carnivore biped cretaceous
Archaeopterix carnivore biped jurassic
Plateosaurus herbivore both triassic
Diplodocus herbivore quadraped Jurassic
Stegoceras herbivore biped Cretaceous
Hedrodontosaurus herbivore biped jurassic
Abrictosaurus herbivore biped jurassic
Pisanosaurus herbivore biped Triassic
Thesclosaurus herbivore quadaped jurassic
Hyplophdon herbivore biped Creataceous
Leaellynasaura herbivore biped Creataceous
Camptosaurus herbivore both Jurassic
Iguanodon herbivore both Cretaceous
Maisaura herbivore both Cretaceous

Thank you.

I quite imagine the back claw would be for ripping and tearing prey.

That's what I thought, but then many of the dinosaurs I listed are herbivores.

I think it is a vestige on the herbivores because of all dinosaurs' evolution. Although they didn't need it, it stayed as a sort of appendage, like a dog's dewclaw, so to speak.

You should check out what is happening in Alaska in paleontology with the resurgence in gold mining around Yellow Knife. The silt under the ice, which was dust during the ice age (yes dust apparently there was lots of dust) under which the gold is found, has to be washed away with powerful hydraulic hoses, therefore yielding troves of just about every dino.

Thank you, I'll check that out.
Best wishes.

Sorry Yellowknife is NWT not Alaska