Deinonychus, or "terrible claw" after the sickle-shaped talon on each hind foot, stood about 11 feet from head to tail and was a lithe predator.

This is probably because of the way a dog's weight is distributed - after all, only the tail is behind the hind-limbs, but the forelimbs have to support not only the torso but the head as well.

The absolute growth of the head weight, forelimb weight, hind limb weight, body length, forelimb length, hind limb length, shin length and the third toe length showed a pattern of normal distribution.