(Edmonton) University of Alberta researchers found evidence that a feathered, but flightless dinosaur was able to snag and consume small flying dinosaurs.
The U of A paleontology team found 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," said Persons.
Persons explains 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.
The research was led by U of A Master's paleontology student Lida Xing. The U of A coauthors includes Tetsuto Miyashita, Michael Burns and Phil Currie. The research was published Aug. 29 in the journal PLoS ONE .
Artwork is attached. Artwork credit: Cheung Chungtat
PLOS ONE