Science News Hubb
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
Science News Hubb
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News

This dinosaur may have had a body like a duck’s

admin by admin
December 1, 2022
in Science News



A dinosaur unearthed in Mongolia is making a splash among paleontologists, as its sleek physique adds potential evidence to the idea that some dinos were suited for life in the water.  

Natovenator polydontus may be the first known nonbird dinosaur to have possessed a streamlined body comparable to that of modern diving birds, researchers report December 1 in Communications Biology. Natovenator and other closely related dinosaurs may have been swimming predators, the researchers say, challenging the popular notion that all dinos were landlubbers.

Natovenator was small like a duck and probably used its forelimbs when swimming, says Yuong-Nam Lee, a vertebrate paleontologist at Seoul National University in South Korea. “We think that Natovenator lived in shallow water and ate small fish,” he says.

This isn’t the first time that researchers have suspected a nonbird dinosaur of having an aquatic lifestyle. For years, paleontologists have debated whether spinosaurs were aquatic predators (SN: 3/23/22). And in 2017, researchers reported that Halszkaraptor —a close relative of Natovenator — had features analogous to those of aquatic birds and reptiles, though the scientists were unable to infer a body shape.   

In the new study, Lee and colleagues analyzed a well-preserved skeleton from the Hermiin Tsav fossil formation in Mongolia, found in rocks from the Upper Cretaceous, which dates to about 100 million to 66 million years ago. The skull, teeth, neck and limbs of Natovenator are akin to those of Halszkaraptor, the team reports, suggesting the two probably had comparable lives.

What’s more, the orientation of Natovenator’s ribs indicates that it had a streamlined body like that of modern waterfowl, with a compressed and flattened rib cage akin to aquatic reptiles, the researchers say.

The close resemblance between Natovenator and a duck or cormorant is almost certainly an example of what’s known as convergent evolution, says Thomas Holtz Jr., a vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Maryland in College Park, who was not involved in the study. “Similar body plans evolve because of similar lifestyles.”

It remains unclear just how strong a swimmer Natovenator may have been. The dinosaur’s forelimbs appear short, and its hind limbs seem to lack attributes of kick-propelled swimmers like loons, Holtz says. But semiaquatic mammals like minks and some other successful modern swimming predators have skeletons that aren’t highly specialized for life in the water either, he says. “So Natovenator might be intermediate in swimming ability, between something like a mink and a loon.”



Source link

Previous Post

HIV vaccine prompts virus-specific antibodies in 97 per cent of people in a small study

Next Post

Environmental RNA Reveals Heat Stress in Water Fleas

Next Post

Environmental RNA Reveals Heat Stress in Water Fleas

Recommended

Save a massive $760 Black Friday off this Autel EVO II V2 Pro drone bundle

November 25, 2022

The James Webb Space Telescope wasn’t the only big space news in 2022

December 20, 2022

Don't miss it

Science News

Vikings brought animals to England as early as the year 873

February 2, 2023
Science News

Antidepressants mostly can’t treat chronic pain, despite wide use

February 2, 2023
Science News

‘The Ark’ premiere sets up a sci-fi survival saga in outer space

February 2, 2023
Technology

Size, Sex and Breed May Predict Dogs’ Cancer Diagnosis

February 2, 2023
Technology

What Psilocybin Psychedelic Mushrooms Are Teaching Us About Human Consciousness

February 1, 2023
Technology

Bio-Rad’s CFX Opus Deepwell Dx Real-Time PCR System Advances Large Reaction Volume IVD Assay Development and Diagnostic Testing

February 1, 2023

© 2022 Science News Hubb All rights reserved.

Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us

Newsletter Sign Up

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us

© 2022 Science News Hubb All rights reserved.