New dinosaur had a keen sense of smell

[Still Waters]

A researcher from the University of Pennsylvania has identified a species of dinosaur closely related to Velociraptor, the group of creatures made infamous by the movie "Jurassic Park." The newly named species likely possessed a keen sense of smell that would have made it a formidable predator.

http://www.eurekaler...p-ndk051115.php

[She-ra]

Very cool. He was smaller then I thought:

At less than 3 feet at its hip and roughly 6 feet in length, S. sullivani was not a large dinosaur. However, previous findings of related species suggest the animal would have been agile and fast, perhaps hunting in packs and using its acute sense of smell to track down prey.

"Although it was not large, this was not a dinosaur you would want to mess with," Jasinski said

Thanks Still Waters!!

[Sundew]

I would not be surprised that a dinosaur with a keen sense of smell would be more of a carrion feeder. Most birds have a poor sense of smell, but Turkey Vultures have a very keen nose, so much so they can detect a carcass covered in leaves from the air, when they could not possibly see it.

[BeastieRunner]

Great find. I enjoy the discovery of new raptor species.

[paperdyer]

How can you tell from the skull that the nose was superior for smell?

[Atuke]

It must've smelled too much West Indian Lilac and died.

[Infernal Gnu]

Excellent. Now clone a bunch of them and let's get some raptor fights going.

[David-C]

Kristen says, NO!!

[theotherguy]

How can you tell from the skull that the nose was superior for smell?

The size of the nasal cavities. It's a pretty direct relationship: bigger nasal passages = better sense of smell. Since the olfactory nerves have pretty much gone away during the process of fossilization, it can't be directly confirmed, but what are paleontologists for if not making guesses about dead things?

[SlashHabit]

Oh yeah? well if he was so special then how comes he's dead?