Feathered Dinosaurs Were Venomous Predators 8
Dananjaya writes "Early dinosaurs weren’t just covered in feathers. They were also poisonous. Analysis of skulls belonging to different species of Sinornithosaurus, a group of feathered predatory theropods that lived 125 million years ago in what is now northeast China, shows skeletal features reminiscent of modern rear-fanged snakes and lizards."
Parallel evolution? (Score:2)
I wonder how many times venom, especially venom delivered by fang, has evolved?
Re: (Score:2)
Considering only reptiles -- and their forebears and descendents -- deliver venom with fangs, I'd say "once."
Also spiders. Insects. And fanged, venomous mammals known as Solenodons [wikipedia.org].
Don't panic, Randall, but... (Score:2)
Has anyone told xkcd about this?