Raptor-like Predator Was a Voracious Eater

Looks like the feathered flightless dinosaurs were able to consume small flying dinosaurs. The palentologists from University of Alberta along with researchers from pipestone Creek Dinosaur Initiative in Alberta and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences carefully monitored the fossilized remains of three flying dinosaurs in the stomach of Sinocalliopteryx that is a raptor like predator.

On analyzing the stomach contents of the second Sinocalliopteryx fossil they identified the last meal they had was a small feathered meat eater that is the size of the house cat that had capacity to fly or glide short distance.

Sinocalliopteryx that is two meters in length and approximately the size of a modern day wolf had three confuciusornis intact in their belly.  Confuciusornis which served as their meal was one of the earliest bird and roughly looked like the modern bird's skeleton and muscles. According to the researchers the primitive birds were limited to slow take offs and short flight. This is the first time they have learnt of predators been linked o multiple killing of the flying dinosaurs.

Scott Persons, a U of A paleontology student and research coauthor says, "Sinocalliopteryx may have used stealth to stock the flyers. They didn't have wings or the physical tools needed to be an adept tree climber," said Persons. "They 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.

"Sinocalliopteryx is a relative of Velociraptor which means this is the first direct evidence of a raptor becoming another predatory dinosaur's meal," said Persons.