New dinosaur species uncovered in US
This raptor was closely related to birds
IMAGE BY Lindsay Zanno
Scientists have today announced the discovery of a new species of dinosaur in Utah, the Talos Sampsoni. The raptor is the first discovery of its kind in more than 75 years, exciting scientists and palaeontologists alike.
The carnivorous dinosaur, part of a species of theropod dinosaurs closely related to birds, would have weighed about 40 kilograms. It had feathers, small wing-like arms, and sharp talons on each of its toes.
"Finding a decent specimen of this type of dinosaur in North America is like a lighting strike," Lindsay Zanno, the lead author of the study naming the new dinosaur, said in a statement provided to Huffington Post. "It’s a random event of thrilling proportions."
Scientists also found that the creature walked with one talon on each foot raised, indicating that it may have been used for another purpose.
"It was an instrument meant for inflicting damage," Zanno said.
Researchers also found that the dinosaur had an injured toe. Using a CT scanner to examine the bones in Talos' foot, they found the injury was confined to the talon and didn't affect the entire foot.
This injury suggests that the dinosaur was doing something high risk - more than likely hunting for prey.
The bones were discovered by a graduate student in a national park in Souhtern Utah, and will be displayed at the museum of natural history in Salt Lake City.
[HuffPost]