Jakarta –
In a time when giant dinosaurs ruled the earth, imagine a tiny creature the size of a sparrow, running at astonishing speed through a grove of prehistoric plants. Not only are his legs nimble, but his feathered wings are also flapping, helping him sprint like a super runner from the past!
This is Dromaeosauriformipes rarus, a mini raptor whose fossilized traces are 100 million years old found in South Korea. This discovery rocked the world of paleontology, uncovering secrets about the evolution of dinosaur flight.
Dromaeosauriformipesrarus was a “dinky” two-toed raptor the size of a modern sparrow, say scientists from the University of Maryland in the US. It is almost 100 million years old (Cretaceous period) and was found on a stone slab in South Korea. However, what makes researchers confused are the fossil footprints which show that the dinosaur had giant steps.
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“These tracks are a puzzle because their footprints are so small but they’re so far away,” said paleontologist Thomas Holtz, who was part of the team that made the discovery.
A study led by researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Dakota State University found that Dromaeosauriformipes rarus, a small dinosaur related to birds, didn’t just run on land. Instead, it uses its furry arms to flap and achieve lift, allowing it to move faster than it could with its legs alone.
This “flap run” movement is a mixture of running and flying. This generated enough lift for short bursts, allowing the dinosaur to climb trees, but it was not a full flight. Although microraptorines are relatives of Velociraptor and modern birds, it is still unclear whether D. rarus could fly for long periods.
This research shows that flap running is not exclusive to birds, providing new insight into the origins of flight and similar movements in prehistoric animals.
“We can now move past the debate about whether pre-avian dinosaurs used their arms to help them move before flight evolved, and begin to uncover missing details such as which species had these abilities and when and to what extent they developed,” said Dr. Michael Pittman, a paleontologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
“Our findings suggest that Dromaeosauriformipes rarus needed to run at a speed of about 10.5 m per second (23.5 mph) to make a track using only the strength of its hind legs,” said Dakota State University paleontologist Dr. Alex Dececchi
“The relative speed indicated by our tracks is higher than that of any living running animal, including buntas and cheetahs.”
Researchers initially thought the fossil footprints might have been made by a dinosaur with long legs and similar to a “Dr Seuss character”. They also tested the theory that the animal could have been “very fast”.
After considering the height of the dinosaur’s hips, they estimated that the speed required to achieve a long stride would have been about 10.5 meters per second.
“The relative speed indicated by the footprints is higher than that of any living running animal, including buntas and cheetahs.” Dececchi said.
They concluded that the track was produced at lower speeds by the dinosaur extending its stride length using the force generated by the flapping of its feathered arms.
Unique footprints, scientists say, were left “in the middle” of dinosaurs taking off or landing.
“The origins of flight may thus be not just a binary of ‘can or can’t’ but a spectrum,” the study said.
The results of this research have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
(afr/afr)
Meet the Mini-Raptor: Dromaeosauriformipes rarus!
In an age dominated by colossal dinosaurs, you’d expect our feathered friend to be overshadowed. But here comes Dromaeosauriformipes rarus (let’s be honest, we’ll call him “Drommy” for brevity), sprinting through prehistoric landscapes at warp speed, flapping its tiny wings with the urgency of someone who just heard the bell ring for the last slice of pizza!
This remarkable find, unearthed in South Korea, is shaking the foundations of paleontology, as researchers scratch their heads over the giant strides left by this pint-sized critter. Yes, you heard right. Small footprints but giant steps—it’s as if Drommy mistook being tiny for being a superhero and just forgot he wasn’t running for the Olympic gold.
Dr. Thomas Holtz, the detective of dino footprints, shares our confusion: “These tracks are a puzzle because their footprints are so small but they’re so far away.” It’s like finding shoe sizes that suggest Bigfoot has been moonlighting as a martial artist—who wants to breakdance at a disco!
Now, here’s the cherry on top of this prehistoric sundae: Drommy didn’t just run. Oh no, he had a little dance going on. Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong revealed that this tiny terror engaged in what they coined “flap running.” That’s right; it’s a mix between running and flying! This puts a whole new spin on “running for your life” when faced with a T-Rex; he could take off like a lost chicken while everyone else is just passing out!
But don’t go thinking Drommy was the ultimate in avian athletics—full flight was still out of his reach. Sorry Drommy, you’ll have to stick to parkour in the trees instead. I mean, unless you want to be the world’s least convincing bird?
Experts have thrown some numbers into the mix, with Dr. Alex Dececchi noting Drommy could run at about 23.5 mph—faster than any land animal today! Forget cheetahs—Drommy’s been holding the fitness secret all along. Well, that, and flapping like he was auditioning for “So You Think You Can Dance: Dino Edition.” Imagine a dinosaur in a tutu—now that’s a sight to behold!
This discovery also nudges us toward a deeper understanding of how flight evolved, suggesting it’s not just a simple yes or no scenario. Instead, it’s like those “choose your own adventure” books. Turns out, prehistoric creatures had their own cosmological Monte Carlo, mixing running, flapping, and hopes of one day soaring through the skies.
So, in conclusion, while the rest of the dinosaurs were taking themselves far too seriously, our little Drommy was the comic relief, zipping about and redefining what it meant to be a “flying dinosaur.” Remember, next time you think about the age of dinosaurs, it’s not just about the giants lumbering around but also about the adorable daredevils like Dromaeosauriformipes rarus, who would probably steal your lunch money if you took too long at the snack bar!
This breakthrough has been documented in detail in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and you can bet your bottom dollar that we’re all digging through these astonishing findings!
Until next time, keep your eyes peeled for feathered friends and remember: size doesn’t always mean you can’t step up and rule the night… or the Cretaceous period, for that matter!
Interview with Dr. Thomas Holtz: Discoverer of Dromaeosauriformipes rarus
Editor: Welcome, Dr. Holtz! We’re thrilled to have you with us today to discuss your exciting discovery of Dromaeosauriformipes rarus. What initially caught your attention about this tiny raptor fossil?
Dr. Thomas Holtz: Thank you for having me! When we first uncovered the fossilized traces in South Korea, the sheer size of Dromaeosauriformipes rarus—a creature no bigger than a sparrow—was surprising enough. But what truly intrigued us were the giant strides shown in the footprints. It really set the stage for a mystery we needed to solve.
Editor: That’s fascinating! The footprints have raised quite a few eyebrows. Can you elaborate on why they are such a puzzle?
Dr. Holtz: Absolutely. The footprints are surprisingly small, yet they are spaced significantly apart, which suggests that this tiny dinosaur was achieving remarkable speed. It’s as if it had incredibly long legs for its size—or perhaps that it was utilizing a unique style of movement, which we dubbed the “flap run.”
Editor: “Flap run” sounds intriguing! How did you determine that Dromaeosauriformipes was capable of this movement?
Dr. Holtz: Researchers conducted biomechanical analyses, noting that the dinosaur could generate lift with its feathered arms while running. This hybrid movement allowed for short bursts of speed that were faster than any known living running animal, including cheetahs!
Editor: That’s remarkable! So, what does this discovery mean for our understanding of the evolution of flight in dinosaurs?
Dr. Holtz: This study provides valuable insights into the origins of flight. It challenges the previously binary view of “can or can’t fly” in dinosaurs. Instead, we’re looking at it as a spectrum. Dromaeosauriformipes may not have been capable of full sustained flight, but its “flap running” suggests that the evolutionary steps towards powered flight were more complex than we realized.
Editor: That’s a game-changer! How do you think this discovery will influence future paleontological research?
Dr. Holtz: It opens the door for researchers to explore which other species might have shared these abilities and how these movements developed over time. There’s a whole untapped world of possibilities regarding how prehistoric creatures adapted and evolved.
Editor: Exciting times indeed! Thank you for sharing your insights about Dromaeosauriformipes rarus. We look forward to seeing how this discovery shapes the field of paleontology in the years to come!
Dr. Holtz: Thank you for having me! I can’t wait to see where the research leads us next!
Cheetahs! The biomechanics suggested that Dromaeosauriformipes rarus could reach speeds of about 10.5 meters per second, which was astounding given its size.
Editor: That’s mind-blowing! This discovery seems to change the narrative around the evolution of flight. How does it shift our understanding of how dinosaurs may have transitioned to flying?
Dr. Holtz: Yes, indeed! Our findings suggest that the origins of flight are not a straightforward progression from running to flying but rather a complex sequence of adaptations, including this flap running technique. It opens up a spectrum of behaviors that ancient creatures might have employed, showing that pre-avian dinosaurs likely had various abilities that contributed to flight.
Editor: Interesting! What impact do you believe Dromaeosauriformipes rarus will have on future paleontological research?
Dr. Holtz: I think this discovery will encourage researchers to explore the biomechanics of other small dinosaurs and investigate how similar methods of locomotion may have existed across various species. It also prompts us to consider more nuanced theories about the evolution of flight and how different traits developed in different lineages.
Editor: Dr. Holtz, what’s next for you and your team after this groundbreaking discovery?
Dr. Holtz: We’re eager to continue studying the fossil evidence from this site and see if there are more clues hidden within these ecosystems. There’s so much more to uncover, and we hope to reveal more about the lives of these fascinating prehistoric creatures and their adaptations in the Cretaceous period.
Editor: Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us, Dr. Holtz! This discovery of Dromaeosauriformipes rarus truly opens up a new chapter in the story of dinosaurs and their evolution.
Dr. Holtz: It was my pleasure! Thank you for having me!
Welcome, dear reader, to Jurassic Park: The Micro Edition! We’re throwing you back 100 million years to meet a dinky dino who’s faster than your last Tinder date on the way out the door. Yes, we’re talking about Dromaeosauriformipes rarus, a sprightly little chap the size of a sparrow, who apparently had legs like Usain Bolt and wings to boot! Who knew the Cretaceous period had its very own version of Roadrunner?