Prior to this, paleontologists believed microraptors, which were about the size of a modern day hawk, lived in trees where they preyed exclusively on small birds and mammals about the size of squirrels.
Microraptor, a small flying dinosaur was a complete hunter, able to swoop down and pickup fish as well as its previously known prey of birds and tree dwelling mammals, a University of Alberta led research has revealed.
U of A paleontology graduate student Scott Persons said that new evidence of Microrpator`s hunting ability came from fossilized remains in China.
“We were very fortunate that this Microraptor was found in volcanic ash and its stomach content of fish was easily identified,” he stated.
Prior to this, paleontologists believed microraptors, which were about the size of a modern day hawk, lived in trees where they preyed exclusively on small birds and mammals about the size of squirrels.
“Now we know that Microraptor operated in varied terrain and had a varied diet. It took advantage of a variety of prey in the wet, forested environment that was China during the early Cretaceous period, 120 million years ago,” said Persons.
Further analysis of the fossil revealed that its teeth were adapted to catching slippery, wiggling prey like fish. Dinosaur researchers have established that most meat eaters had teeth with serrations on both sides that like a steak knife helped the predator saw through meat.
But the Microraptor`s teeth are serrated on just one side and its teeth are angled forwards.
“Microraptor seems adapted to impale fish on its teeth. With reduced serrations the prey wouldn`t tear itself apart while it struggled,” said Persons.
“Microraptor could simply raise its head back, the fish would slip off the teeth and be swallowed whole, no fuss no muss,” he added.
Persons likens the Microraptor`s wing configuration to a bi-plane. “It had long feathers on its forearms, hind legs and tail. It was capable of short, controlled flights,” he said
This is the first evidence of a flying raptor, a member of the Dromaeosaur family of dinosaurs to successfully prey on fish.
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