Troodon << TROH uh don >> was a small, two-legged dinosaur that lived about 76 million to 65 million years ago, during the end of the Cretaceous Period. Troodon had an unusually large brain for a dinosaur of its size. It may have ranked among the smartest of all dinosaurs.
Troodon grew about 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length and weighed 50 to 100 pounds (23 to 45 kilograms). Its light, agile body had an elongated head; two arms with long, clawed hands; and long legs. Troodon could run fast, using its large tail for balance and for aid in quick turns.
Troodon was a meat eater and an excellent hunter. Its diet probably included such animals as dinosaur hatchlings, lizards, small mammals, and snakes. Scientists believe Troodon hunted at night. The dinosaur’s large, forward-facing eyes suggest it could see well in the dark and had good depth perception. One toe on each foot ended in a large, hooked claw. The animal probably used these claws to kill prey. Troodon’s long, slim jaws held about 120 serrated (saw-edged) teeth for tearing flesh. The name Troodon comes from Greek words meaning wounding tooth.
Troodon lived in what is now North America. Scientists have discovered its fossils, including some eggs, in western areas of the United States and Canada.
