More about limbs

The shape of a dinosaur’s feet depended on whether it walked on two or four legs. Four-legged dinosaurs had similar front and rear feet, spreading their weight on hooflike toes. Two-legged dinosaurs could use their front feet like hands, grasping at prey or holding plant food.
STOUT LIMBS
Widely spaced toes and thick, stout limb bones helped Triceratops spread the weight of its massive body. The shorter forelimbs carried the weight of Triceratops’ huge head. Much of the body weight was supported by the long and powerful rear legs. Short and stubby toes on all four feet ended in hoof-shaped claws.
GIANT CLAW
The powerful carnivore Baryonyx had one of the largest dinosaur claws known. The curved talon, which was 12 in (31 cm) long, formed a huge weapon on Baryonyx’s hand.
IGUANODON HAND
Iguanodon could use its hands in several ways. It could use the hoofed middle fingers for walking, and the long fifth fingers could hook onto plants. The thumb spikes were probably defensive weapons used for stabbing enemies.
CLAW FOR PROTECTION
Apatosaurus, a giant sauropod dinosaur, had a pointed claw on each front foot, which it may have used for defense.
DINOSAUR PRINT
Iguanodon left many clues behind when it became extinct. When it walked on damp sand or mud it left footprints, which dried and became preserved. The footprints of an adult Iguanodon would have been about 35 in (90 cm) long.

Dinosaur limbs

Dinosaurs held their legs directly beneath the body, unlike other reptiles, which crawl with their legs held out from the sides of the body. Huge herbivorous dinosaurs, such as Diplodocus, walked on all fours with front and rear legs supporting bulky bodies. Most carnivores, such as Albertosaurus, walked on the two back legs, leaving the front limbs free for catching and holding prey.
FLESH AND BONE
The rear legs of Albertosaurus were powered by large muscles that pulled on the bones to make them move. The ankle and metatarsals worked as part of the leg, giving a longer stride.
MYSTERIOUS DINOSAUR
Almost all that is known of Deinocheirus is this huge pair of arms and hands. Thes forelimbs are 8ft (2.4 m) long. It is thought that Deinocheirus belonged to a group of dinosaurs called ornithomimosaurs. The huge hands would have been used to catch
and hold prey.
GOOD SUPPORT
Five widely spread toes on the rear feet of Diplodocus helped support the dinosaur’s enormous weight. The first three toes had claws. A padded heel, like that of an elephant, cushioned the thundering footsteps.
FLEET FOOT
Ornithomimus was one of the speediest dinosaurs. Its three foot bones were locked together, making a long extension to the leg. Running on the tips of its toes, it could take long strides. Ornithomimus may have reached top speeds of 37 mph (60 km/h) – fast enough to escape most predators.
LEGS LIKE PILLARS
The heaviest dinosaurs had pillarlike legs, like those of elephants. Brachiosaurus weighed about 0 tons (tonnes) so it needed thick, strong legs to support its body.