New research into velociraptor fossils indicates that raptors hunted alone rather than in coordinated packs, rendering the fictionalised cinematic portrayals of the clever species in both the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises slightly less accurate.
Popular Mechanics reports that a team of researchers conducted a stable isotope analysis of the chemical makeup of fossilised raptor teeth, especially from deinonychus antirrhopus. Their findings revealed a disparity between young and mature raptors’ eating habits and therefore, their hunting behaviour.
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The paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology documented that, under the microscope, the smallest teeth and the largest teeth did not have the same carbon isotope levels, suggesting a dietary diversity between the two groups that would not generally be found in animals that hunted in packs. It is noted that this type of transition in diet is similar to the pattern found in Cretaceous crocodilians.
“This is what we would expect for an animal where the parents do not provide food for their young,” said Dr. Frederickson, lead author. “We also see the same pattern in the raptors, where the smallest teeth and the large teeth do not have the same average carbon isotope values, indicating they were eating different foods. This means the young were not being fed by the adults, which is why we believe Jurassic Park was wrong about raptor behaviour.”
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For more real-world dinosaur discoveries and developments, read up about the Spinosaurus aka the first known swimming dinosaur, find out about the new tyrannosaur species, dubbed the “Reaper of Death”, and take a look at a recent study that suggests mercury contamination occurred prior to dinosaur extinction.
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Source: IGN.com Jurassic Park Got It Wrong About Raptor Behaviour, Scientists Claim