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PostMortem
17 Mar 2009, 03:54 AM
Very cool! I wish I could have one as a pet:D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7947240.stm

The smallest meat-eating dinosaur yet to be found in North America has been identified from six tiny pelvic bones.

Hesperonychus was the size of a small-chicken, and used its rows of serrated teeth to feed on insects, experts say.

The bird-like creature is closely related to Microraptor - a tiny feathered dinosaur discovered in China.

The specimen helps to confirm that reptiles, and not mammals, filled the role of small predators during the age of the dinosaurs.

DMB
17 Mar 2009, 08:40 AM
I don't see how it "confirms" that small mammals could not also have been predators.

After all, the same prey can be taken either by foxes or by hawks nowadays.

Eudaimonist
18 Mar 2009, 10:09 AM
"The specimen helps to confirm that reptiles [...] filled the role of small predators during the age of the dinosaurs."

Dinosaurs are reptiles? News to me.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Lisa0315
18 Mar 2009, 01:31 PM
Yeah, for real!

Eudaimonist
18 Mar 2009, 03:51 PM
That's a cute little dino. I just want to pet it and cuddle it and... hey! Stop biting me! Ack! Help! Help! Urg...

(Okay, too much Jurassic Park showing on cable. :) )


eudaimonia,

Mark

Puck
22 Mar 2009, 02:22 AM
I need one. I bet that would keep the squirrels away. And the cats dumbasses dump off around here.

ofro
22 Mar 2009, 02:55 AM
Cure enough you take it with you to the mall to pick up chicks?

Eudaimonist
23 Mar 2009, 12:43 PM
It it is fuzzy enough. :)


eudaimonia,

Mark