| Diet | Omnivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 3.5m |
| Weight | 200 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | North America |
Anzu was a remarkable theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 72 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now North America. This fascinating creature belonged to a group called oviraptorosaurs, which were feathered dinosaurs closely related to modern birds. Anzu earned the nickname 'chicken from hell' due to its bizarre appearance and the challenging conditions researchers faced whilst excavating its fossils in the badlands of North and South Dakota.
Standing about 1.5 metres tall at the hip and measuring 3.5 metres in length, Anzu was one of the largest known oviraptorosaurs in North America. It possessed a distinctive bony crest on its head, powerful clawed hands, and a long tail. Like other members of its group, Anzu was covered in feathers, though it was far too large to fly. Its robust build and powerful legs suggest it was well-adapted for life on the ground.
As an omnivore, Anzu likely had a varied diet that included plants, small animals, eggs, and possibly fish. Its beak-like mouth lacked teeth, but its strong jaw muscles would have been capable of crushing tough plant material and cracking open eggs. The creature's large claws were probably used for digging, grasping food, and possibly defence against predators.
Anzu had a prominent bony crest on its skull, a toothless beak, and powerful three-fingered hands with large curved claws. Its feathered body was supported by long, muscular legs built for running.
Anzu likely lived in small groups and spent much of its time foraging for food on the ground, using its claws to dig for roots, insects, and small prey. Its large size and powerful claws suggest it could defend itself effectively against smaller predators.
Anzu has appeared in several documentaries about feathered dinosaurs and has become popular in dinosaur books for children due to its distinctive appearance and memorable nickname.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Order | Avetheropoda |
| Family | Caenagnathidae |
| Genus | Anzu |
Anzu was first described by Matthew Lamanna and colleagues in 2014. The original fossils were discovered at Hell Creek Formation, North and South Dakota, USA.
