Robotic Dinosaur Reveals Ancient Wing and Tail Displays that Flushed Prey, Study Finds
In the world of dinosaur research, the absence of living creatures to observe poses a significant challenge. However, a team of researchers in South Korea has found a way to overcome this obstacle. They have created a robot called Robopteryx, which closely resembles the prehistoric omnivore Caudipteryx, to study the origins of birds’ wings and tails.
Before the evolution of feathered flight, some dinosaurs developed feathered forearms and tails. However, these appendages were too weak to enable the animals to take flight. The driving force behind their evolution has remained a topic of debate among dinosaur experts. Various theories propose different benefits of these “proto-wings,” including their use as insect nets, tools to prevent prey from escaping, aids for long hops and gliding, and means to keep the animal and its offspring warm.
The South Korean team put forward an alternative hypothesis suggesting that dinosaurs used their feathered appendages for threatening displays to flush out insects and other prey from hiding places. This strategy, known as “flush and pursue,” is still employed by certain bird species today, such as the northern mockingbird and greater roadrunner.
To test their hypothesis, the scientists observed how grasshoppers reacted to Robopteryx’s wing and tail movements. They designed these movements to mimic the displays that Caudipteryx might have performed approximately 124 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period. Carefully positioning the robot near unsuspecting grasshoppers without startling them, the researchers noted that the insects were more likely to flee when Robopteryx deployed its wings. The most effective displays involved sweeping the wings back and then swooping them down and forwards. Adding white patches to the black wings and large tail feathers to the display further increased the grasshoppers’ likelihood of fleeing.
While some grasshoppers hopped away as Robopteryx approached, many froze or hid behind plant stems, preparing to escape. According to Professor Piotr Jablonski, a behavioral ecologist on the team at Seoul National University, in this situation, the grasshoppers were well camouflaged and not as easy to spot as during a sudden jump.
The researchers believe that flush displays trigger ancient escape circuitry in the insect brain. This defense mechanism prompts the grasshopper to run, but once out in the open, it becomes more vulnerable to becoming the predator’s prey. If some feathered dinosaurs did hunt using this strategy, it could have driven the evolution of larger and stiffer feathers.
However, not all scientists are convinced by this theory. The team faced numerous rejections from 11 journals before their study was reviewed and accepted for publication in Scientific Reports. Professor Michael Benton, a vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Bristol, expressed skepticism, suggesting that flight-type feathers originated in dinosaurs when they had tiny wings that were too small for powered flight. He proposed that these feathers were more likely used for gliding from one spot to another, citing examples of modern gliding lizards and mammals that have adapted to half wings for non-powered flight or gliding.
While the debate continues among experts, the research conducted by the South Korean team sheds light on the potential behavior of feathered dinosaurs and their use of wing and tail displays. By studying Robopteryx’s interactions with grasshoppers, they have provided valuable insights into the possible hunting strategies employed by these ancient creatures. Further research and analysis will undoubtedly contribute to our understanding of dinosaur behavior and the evolutionary significance of their feathered appendages.