The birdlike raptor Sinornithosaurus was venomous.
We suggest that some of the most avian dromaeosaurs, such as Sinornithosaurus, were venomous, and propose an ecological model for that taxon based on its unusual dentition and other cranial features including grooved teeth, a possible pocket for venom glands, and a groove leading from that pocket to the exposed bases of the teeth. These features are all analogous to the venomous morphology of lizards. Sinornithosaurus and related dromaeosaurs probably fed on the abundant birds of the Jehol forests during the Early Cretaceous in northeastern China.
Gong
Enpu
E
Department of Geology, Northeastern University, Liaoning 110004, China.
Martin
Larry D
LD
Burnham
David A
DA
Falk
Amanda R
AR
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002681:China; D003817:Dentition; D005580:Fossils; D009144:Museums; D010163:Paleontology / Q000379:methods; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D020304:Raptors; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012911:Snakes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014688:Venoms / Q000032:analysis*
D014688:Venoms