Teeth signs suggest that “bird terrorism” was killed reptile

Scientists may have killed him on the bone on the leg of a large bird reptile, known as a bird of terrorism 13 million years ago, believes that even more predator.

Birds of terror were the best predators – they could be higher than the person, and had powerful feet and hooked, the pulp of the beak.

Paleontologists in Colombia corresponded to the footsteps of the fossil bone of one of these terrible birds to a kayman or reptile, similar to a crocodile.

3D -welcoming bites allowed scientists to restore what, in their opinion, was a “battle to death” that the bird of terrorism did not survive.

A new study, Published in the Biological Letters magazineComparing the size and shape of the teeth with the skulls and teeth of the crocodile predators in museum collections.

It provides rare evidence, according to researchers, about the interaction of the two extinct predators at the time.

The bone of the legs studied by scientists for the first time was excavated more than 15 years ago in the desert of Dadakoa Colombia.

If the bird lived in the swamps of this territory 13 million years ago, it would be about 2.5 million. Height and used legs and beak to hold and thwart its prey.

The fact that scientists are unable to prove whether this particular, unhappy bird of terrorism was killed as a result of the attack, or when Cayman cleared his remains.

“There are no signs of healing in the footsteps of the bone,” explained the leading researcher Andres Link of the Uniddad de Los -Andnda, Colombia.

“So, if he was not dead yet, he died as a result of the attack. It was the last day when the bird was on this planet – then a piece of legs was found in 13 million years.”

In the desert daddy live rich fossil deposits from an era known as the Middle Miacecent.

At the time, it was a wet swamp where the rivers were trapped and the bones of dead animals, which led to the remains today.

This particular bone was first discovered about 15 years ago by local fossil collector Cesar August Paradam.

Colombian scientists cooperated closely with Mr. Paradam, studying and cataloging the fossils he had collected in his museum. It was when scientists worked in the museum, that they realized that this piece of feet came from the fist from a bird of terror.

It was an exciting discovery – the fossil birds are rare. But Dr. Link and his colleagues were also fascinated by bones, which were clearly made by the teeth of another powerful predator.

This new signs analysis showed that they most accurately correspond to the extinct species called Purussaurus Neivensis, a Krakowel, who would be up to five meters.

Researchers say he would put prey from the edge of the water, as well as crocodiles and kayans.

“I think he waited when the prey was near,” said D -R Link.

If it really was the battle between the two apical predators, Dr. Link says he gives an idea of an ancient ecosystem. This shows that the fierce birds of terror were much more vulnerable to predators than it was previously thought.

“Each piece of body helps us to understand so much about life on the planet in the past,” said D -R Link BBC News.

“It strikes me – how one tiny bone can complete the story.”