A new species of dinosaur might have dived like a duck to catch its prey - CNN

CNN  — 

A caller survey recovered grounds astatine slightest 1 taxon of dinosaur whitethorn person been an adept swimmer, diving into the h2o similar a duck to hunt its prey.

The study, published successful Communications Biology on December 1, describes a newly-discovered species, Natovenator polydontus. The theropod, oregon hollow-bodied dinosaur with 3 toes and claws connected each limb, lived successful Mongolia during the Upper Cretaceous period, 145 to 66 cardinal years ago.

Scientists from Seoul National University, the University of Alberta, and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences collaborated connected the paper.

The researchers pointed retired Natovenator had streamlined ribs, similar the those of diving birds.

“Its assemblage signifier suggests that Natovenator was a perchance susceptible swimming predator, and the streamlined assemblage evolved independently successful abstracted lineages of theropod dinosaurs,” wrote the authors.

The Natovenator specimen is precise akin to Halszkaraptor, different dinosaur discovered successful Mongolia, which scientists judge was apt semiaquatic. But the Natovenator specimen is much implicit than the Halszkaraptor, making it easier for scientists to spot its streamlined assemblage shape.

Both Natovenator and Halszkaraptor apt utilized their forearms to propel them done the water, the researchers explained.

David Hone, a paleontologist and prof astatine Queen Mary University of London, told CNN it is hard to accidental precisely wherever Natovenator falls connected the spectrum of wholly land-dwelling to wholly aquatic. But the specimen’s arms “look similar they’d beryllium rather bully for moving water,” helium said. Hone participated successful the adjacent reappraisal for the Communications Biology study.

Additionally, Natovenator had dense bones, which are indispensable for animals diving beneath the water’s surface.

As the authors wrote, it had a “relatively hydrodynamic body.”

The adjacent step, Hone said, would beryllium to execute modeling of the dinosaur’s assemblage signifier to assistance scientists recognize precisely however it mightiness person moved. “Is it paddling with its feet, a spot of a doggy-paddle? How accelerated could it go?”

Further probe should besides look astatine the situation successful which Natovenator lived. The specimen was discovered successful Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, but determination is grounds determination person been lakes and different bodies of h2o successful the godforsaken successful the past.

“There is simply a existent question of, OK, you’ve got a swimming dinosaur successful the desert, what’s it swimming in?” helium said. “Finding the fossil grounds of those lakes is gonna beryllium tough, but sooner oregon later, we mightiness good find one. And erstwhile we do, we mightiness good find a batch much of these things.”

Nizar Ibrahim, a elder lecturer successful paleontology astatine the University of Portsmouth, whose probe has included findings indicating Spinosaurus was apt semiaquatic, told CNN helium isn’t wholly convinced by the study’s findings yet. He argued much rigorous quantitative investigation would person made the findings much compelling.

“I would person liked to see, for example, a existent coagulated statement of the bony density, the osteohistology of the animal, wrong a larger information set,” helium said. “Even the rib anatomy, if they had benignant of enactment that into a larger representation – the large information acceptable that would person been helpful.”

The “anatomical grounds is little straightforward” for a swimming Natovenator than it was for a swimming Spinosaurus, helium said.

And similar Hone, he’s besides funny astir which waters precisely Natovenator mightiness person been swimming in. “The situation this carnal was recovered successful Mongolia, is benignant of the nonstop other of what you would expect for a water-loving animal,” helium said.

But helium hopes the survey tin assistance unfastened the doorway for much expansive ideas astir dinosaur behavior. Dinosaurs were antecedently thought of arsenic strictly terrestrial, but increasingly, grounds has emerged suggesting astatine slightest immoderate taxon spent arsenic overmuch clip successful the h2o arsenic they did connected land.

“I’m definite that determination volition beryllium many, galore much surprises,” said Ibrahim. “And we’ll find retired the dinosaurs were not conscionable astir for a precise agelong time, but also, you know, truly divers and precise bully astatine invading caller environment.”