First-known venomous dinosaur lived 125 million years ago, say scientists

[Adsos Letter]

Source: TimesOnline
Mark Henderson, Science Editor

A feathered predator that lived 125 million years ago has been revealed as the first-known venomous dinosaur, which paralysed its prey with poison in a similar way to some snakes.

Sinornithosaurus millenii, a dinosaur about the size of a turkey, had grooved fangs for channelling venom and a pocket in the upper jaw that probably held venom glands, scientists have discovered.

The anatomy is similar to that of “rear-fanged” snakes such as the boomslang, which do not inject poison directly through front fangs but funnel it along grooved teeth as they pierce the skin of their prey.

The new research offers the strongest evidence yet for the evolution of venom in dinosaurs. While the idea has long intrigued scientists — the species Dilophosaurus was portrayed in the film Jurassic Park as spitting venom — there were until recently no fossil records to support it.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/biology_evolution/article6964348.ece

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. SEE I TOLD YOU GODLES LIBRUL HETHENS THAT THE BIBEL WAS RIGHT !!!111!!!1111

EVEN THE GODLES EVILUTION SYENTISTS ARE NOW ADMITING THAT SERPINTS USED TO HAVE LEGS, JUST LIKE GOD SAID IN THE GARDIN OF EDIN.!!1!!1! :crazy:

[roguevalley]

13. I would love one without the venom of course. I would have to hide it

around thanksgiving I think. thank you, adsos letter, once again.

[old mark]

2. ...and some of those venomous dinosaurs are still alive in congress today.!!!nt

[grahamhgreen]

3. Zing!

[HuckleB]

4. I was just reading about this on Scientific American.

Berry interesting!

Cheers!

[jgraz]

5. Aaaand the giant Dinosaur book I just bought is now out-of-date

http://www.amazon.com/Dinosauria-David-B-Weishampel/dp/0520242092/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

Gee, thanks scientists. x(

[Quantess]

6. Wow...feathered AND venomous!

[comrade snarky]

7. I love this story

Not only is it an interesting addition to saurian evolution but it gives me the chance to say boomslang.

Boomslang.


That is all.

[Adsos Letter]

8. Boom-slang, Boom-slang, Boom-slang Boom-slang-a-lang-a-lang

...cue the Chiffons... :D

http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/olivor_jane/he_s_so_fine/6581671/lyrics.jhtml

[alfredo]

9. It has feathered legs like the Microraptor.

Sinornithosaurus


Microraptor

[Adsos Letter]

10. Interesting!

:hi:

[alfredo]

12. I changed my post since you replied. I was thinking of the

Microraptor from the Nova documentary "The Four Winged Dinosaur."

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R