Natovenator polydontus?

Natovenator polydontus was a dinosaur of Cretaceous period adapted to semi-aquatic lifestyle

Natovenator polydontus?

What is Natovenator polydontus?

  • The dinosaur, called Natovenator polydontus, lived about 72 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period and was built like a diving bird with a streamlined body while possessing a goose-like elongated neck and a long flattened snout with a mouth bearing more than 100 small teeth. It was almost covered in feathers.
  • While it was a cousin of speedy little predator Velociraptor, Natovenator was adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle in a freshwater ecosystem, perhaps floating on rivers and lakes, paddling with its front limbs, and using its flexible neck to catch fish and insects or diving underwater to capture its prey.
  • Natovenator is part of the dinosaur group called theropods – sharing traits including bipedalism – best known for large meat-eaters including Tyrannosaurus, Tarbosaurus and Giganotosaurus.
  • But the theropods, many of which were feathered, branched out in unusual directions with examples such as long-clawed ground sloth-like Therizinosaurus, ostrich-like Struthiomimus, termite-eating Mononykus and the entire bird lineage.

 


Q1) What is a theropod in biology?

The theropod (meaning “beast-footed”) dinosaurs are a diverse group of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs which include the largest terrestrial carnivores.

Source: Indian Express 

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