A FOSSIL discovery may have solved a major evolutionary puzzle as scientists may have found the link between carnivores and herbivores among the dinosaurs.
The fossils of Falcarius utahensis, believed by scientists to be the missing link of the two distinct dinosaur classes, was found in a remote mountainous region in Utah early this May.
Falcarius (from the Latin word for sickle-maker) has sickle-shaped claws measuring up to five inches, showing the dinosaur’s carnivorous nature. Having a slender body and fast-running legs indicates that the dinosaur chased after fast-moving creatures. The Falcarius also displays designed for the less strenuous task of shredding leaves.
Its digestive structure also suggests plant consumption. Falcarius has a pelvis and legs that are shifted backward, accommodating a larger and more complex digestive system. Its lengthened neck and small head indicate that it reached for food on low branches.
Survival necessitated the creature’s evolution, according to Prof. Rosie Madulid of the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of Science.
“Changes in the characteristics of this dinosaur are caused by factors such as shift of habitat due to climate change, availability of food, which in this case is the abundance of vegetation, and preference and adaptation to feed on plants versus meat,” Madulid said. Laurence John R. Morales
