Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e44012. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044012. Epub 2012 Aug 29.
Two skeletons of the large compsognathid Sinocalliopteryx gigas include intact abdominal contents. Both specimens come from the Jianshangou Beds of the lower Yixian Formation (Neocomian), Liaoning, China. The holotype of S. gigas preserves a partial dromaeosaurid leg in the abdominal cavity, here attributed to Sinornithosaurus. A second, newly-discovered specimen preserves the remains of at least two individuals of the primitive avialan, Confuciusornis sanctus, in addition to acid-etched bones from a possible ornithischian. Although it cannot be stated whether such prey items were scavenged or actively hunted, the presence of two Confuciusornis in a grossly similar state of digestion suggests they were consumed in rapid succession. Given the lack of clear arboreal adaptations in Sinocalliopteryx, we suggest it may have been an adept stealth hunter.
两件大型恐手龙类中华实雷龙的骨骼化石包含完整的腹腔内容物。这两件标本均来自中国辽宁义县下九佛堂组下部的尖山沟层(新科尼亚克阶)。中华实雷龙的正型标本在腹腔内保存了一条部分小型兽脚亚目恐龙的腿部,现归入中华盗龙属。另一件新发现的标本除了保存了来自可能的鸟臀目恐龙的酸蚀骨骼外,还保存了至少两个原始鸟类孔子鸟属个体的遗骸。虽然不能确定这些猎物是被捡食还是被主动猎食的,但两个孔子鸟以相似的消化状态存在,这表明它们是被迅速连续吃掉的。鉴于中华实雷龙缺乏明显的树栖适应特征,我们推测它可能是一个擅长隐蔽狩猎的猎手。