Imagine giant predators performing a “mating dance” much like scratching ceremony of birds.
Apparently, this is what they did theropod a group of carnivorous dinosaurs that lived 228 million years ago yconsiderados the ancestors of modern birds.
According to a study by experts from the University of Denver in Colorado, and published in the journal Nature, these animals two legs scratched the ground with his claws to make a kind of deep holes nidos- for potential partners.
Scientists came to this conclusion after discovering a giant scratch in sandstone, about two meters deep, made by this species about 100 million years ago.
The lead researcher, Professor Martin Lockley said that dinosaurs, possibly males apparently gathered in groups and “went crazy scratching “land with three claws claws to attract mates.
The beasts had similar Tiranosurios Rex to build.
The footprints left near the cracks suggest that the place was theropods of different sizes, some up to four meters long (these animals could grow to 14 meters).
“A frantic”
The discovery was made in four areas of Colorado known as breeding sites for dinosaurs. Marks were also found in an area of Dakota.
The expert Martin Lockley based his research
these scratches found in Colorado and Dakota.
Lockley told US media that the discovery must have been fun to witness.
“These animals must have been very hectic “.
The link between dinosaurs and birds is well established.
These prehistoric animals had bird behaviors such as nest building.
birds are known for their ceremonies mating, so it is very likely that theropods have done the same.
However, the expert from the University of Maryland Thomas Holtz, who was not involved in the study, told the Associated Press that while it was reasonable to think that theropods created holes, it is less clear who has been to mate.
Holtz was not very convinced that the study has ruled comprehensively other explanations.
But also accepted that there is no evidence to rule out the hypothesis of mating.
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