Smallest Dinosaur "Size of Chicken"

Among the giant reptiles that lived in ancient times, it turns out there is a chicken-sized dinosaur. Perhaps this is the smallest dinosaur that ever lived in North America millions of years ago.

Dinosaur species named Albertonykus borealis is a member of the group of dinosaurs called Alvarezsaurus. The group of ancient animals that once inhabited the same region of Asia and South America.

Only 70 centimeters high and is the smallest group Alvarezsaurus ever found. Its existence is known from the fossil bones of dozens of arms and legs that ditemuakn in Alberta Canada since 2002. However, the results of new analysis completed this year and it is known that 70 million years old.

"They really are a strange animal," said Nick Longrich, a paleontologist at the University of Calgary Canada who with his team reported the findings in the latest issue of the journal Cretaceous Research. Imagine, these animals have such a strong muzzle clamp, slim legs like a bird, the tail long and stiff, as well as a short-sleeve T-rex.

Despite the short arm, its function may remain important. At the end of the arm there are two fingers and a thumb is long and curved like a claw.

The researchers guess dinosaur prey on small insects. This can be seen from the small teeth. Thumbs strong and sharp probe tree holes may be used to search for ants or termites.