| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 0.7m |
| Length | 1.8m |
| Weight | 25 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Canada |
Boreonykus was a small, agile theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 83.6 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Alberta, Canada. This recently discovered predator belonged to the raptor family and represents one of the northernmost dromaeosaurids known from North America, hence its name meaning 'northern claw'.
Like other members of its group, Boreonykus was a bipedal hunter equipped with sharp, curved claws on its feet, including the characteristic enlarged sickle-shaped claw on the second toe of each foot. Standing roughly 70 centimetres tall at the hip and measuring about 1.8 metres in total length, it was similar in size to a large dog. Its lightweight build and long legs suggest it was built for speed and agility whilst pursuing prey.
As a carnivore, Boreonykus would have hunted smaller dinosaurs, early mammals, and other vertebrates in the lush, subtropical environments of Late Cretaceous Canada. Its sharp teeth and powerful claws made it an effective predator, likely using pack hunting strategies similar to other dromaeosaurids. The discovery of Boreonykus has provided valuable insights into the diversity of raptor dinosaurs that inhabited the northern regions of ancient North America.
Fossil evidence suggests that Boreonykus lived in coastal and river plain environments, sharing its habitat with various other dinosaur species including hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and other theropods during this dynamic period of Earth's history.
Boreonykus possessed the characteristic enlarged, sickle-shaped claw on each second toe typical of dromaeosaurids, along with sharp, serrated teeth adapted for slicing meat. Its relatively small size and northern geographic location distinguished it from many of its southern relatives.
Boreonykus likely hunted in small groups or pairs, using coordinated attacks to bring down prey larger than themselves. Like other dromaeosaurids, it probably used its large toe claws to slash and subdue victims whilst maintaining balance with its long, stiffened tail.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Order | Avetheropoda |
| Family | Dromaeosauridae |
| Genus | Boreonykus |
Boreonykus was first described by Phil Bell and colleagues in 2022. The original fossils were discovered at Milk River Formation, Alberta, Canada.
