Feathered Dinosaur Hunted Early Birds

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Researchers have found the first evidence that feathered, but flightless dinosaur hunted the ancestors of modern birds.

A paleontology research team from the U of A has discovered the fossilized remains of “three flying dinosaurs in the belly of a raptor-like predator called Sinocalliopteryx. Sinocalliopteryx was about two meters in length and roughly the size of a modern-day wolf.”

“Sinocalliopteryx’s flying meals were three Confuciusornis. Confuciusornis was one of the earliest birds and had a crude version of a modern bird’s skeleton and muscles. The researchers say such primitive birds were probably limited to slow take-offs and short flights. According to the researchers, this is the first time a predator has been linked to the killing of multiple flying dinosaurs.”

Scott Persons, a U of A paleontology student and research coauthor, says Sinocalliopteryx may have used stealth to stock the flyers. “Sinocalliopteryx didn’t have wings or the physical tools needed to be an adept tree climber.”

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“Sinocalliopteryx had feathers or hair-like fuzz covering its body creating a level of insulation that helped maintain a warm body temperature and high metabolism that required a lot of food to fuel.”

“The fact that this Sinocalliopteryx had, not one, but three undigested birds in its stomach indicate it was a voracious eater and a very active hunter,” said Persons.

“This find was made in China’s Liaoning province, and U of A researchers analyzed stomach contents of a second Sinocalliopteryx fossil discovery from that area. The researchers identified this Sinocalliopteryx’s last meal as a Sinornithosaurus, a small feathered meat-eater about the size of a house cat that may have been able to fly or glide short distances.”

“Sinornithosaurus is a relative of Velociraptor which means this is the first direct evidence of a raptor becoming another predatory dinosaur’s meal,” said Persons.

Source: University of Alberta

Image Credits: Xing et al., Abdominal Contents from Two Large Early Cretaceous Compsognathids (Dinosauria: Theropoda) Demonstrate Feeding on Confuciusornithids and Dromaeosaurids. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (8): e44012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044012; H. TischlingerJura Museum Eichstatt

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