Flightless little dinosaur feasted on others

University of Alberta paleontologists have published an article in PLoS ONE about a feathered but flightless little dinosaur that munched on other bird-like dinos. From Brian Murphy at UAlberta.ca:

The U of A paleontology team found the fossilized remains of three flying dinosaurs in the belly of Sinocalliopteryx, a raptor-like predator that was about two metres long and roughly the size of a modern-day wolf.

Sinocalliopteryx’s flying meals were three Confuciusornis, one of the earliest known birds, which had a crude version of a modern bird’s skeleton and muscles. The researchers say such primitive birds were probably limited to slow takeoffs 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 co-author, says Sinocalliopteryx may have used stealth to stalk the flyers. “Sinocalliopteryx didn’t have wings or the physical tools needed to be an adept tree climber.”

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Persons explains that Sinocalliopteryx had feathers or hair-like fuzz covering its body, creating a level of insulation that helped maintain a warm body temperature and a 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 indicates it was a voracious eater and a very active hunter,” said Persons.

This find was made in China’s Liaoning province. U of A researchers also 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.