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Palaeontology

'Vampire' dinosaur had bristles and fangs

By T.K. Randall
October 4, 2012 · Comment icon 16 comments

Image Credit: Tyler Keillor
Pegomastax would have lived 200 million years ago and could shed light on the evolution of other species.
One of the most unusual dinosaurs, Pegomastax sported a set of vampire-like fangs along with a coat of porcupine-like bristles and a beak like a parrot. A relatively small creature at 2 feet in length it would have resembled something like a two-legged porcupine. "The bristles were not quite as strong as a porcupine's, and they don't look as if they were especially effective for insulation," said paleontologist Paul Sereno. "Perhaps they had colors and helped differentiate species, or made Pegomastaxlook bigger than it actually was to potential predators."

It is believed that its set of vampire-like fangs would have been used in conjunction with its beak to help it break open seeds, nuts and fruits. "It would have looked like Dracula," said Sereno. "Probably appropriate, since we're now moving toward Halloween."[!gad]One of the most unusual dinosaurs, Pegomastax sported a set of vampire-like fangs along with a coat of porcupine-like bristles and a beak like a parrot. A relatively small creature at 2 feet in length it would have resembled something like a two-legged porcupine. "The bristles were not quite as strong as a porcupine's, and they don't look as if they were especially effective for insulation," said paleontologist Paul Sereno. "Perhaps they had colors and helped differentiate species, or made Pegomastaxlook bigger than it actually was to potential predators."

It is believed that its set of vampire-like fangs would have been used in conjunction with its beak to help it break open seeds, nuts and fruits. "It would have looked like Dracula," said Sereno. "Probably appropriate, since we're now moving toward Halloween."
The ancient creature, which was found 50 years ago in southern Africa but drew relatively little attention until now, may shed light on the evolution of the major group of dinosaurs that included famous giants such as Stegosaurus and Triceratops.


Source: Fox News | Comments (16)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #7 Posted by King Fluffs 12 years ago
Nightmare material... we meet again.
Comment icon #8 Posted by mushymopman 12 years ago
looks like a chubacabrasaurus
Comment icon #9 Posted by thewild 12 years ago
he's awesome!
Comment icon #10 Posted by Arbitran 12 years ago
Ah, fascinating specimen. Pegomastax is certainly one of the more bizarre dinosaurs we've uncovered so far.
Comment icon #11 Posted by Harlequin Dreamer 12 years ago
Its about time they dusted of some of these small dinosaurs and put them out for the public to see and let them have their accolades.
Comment icon #12 Posted by wolfknight 12 years ago
Cool looking little dino
Comment icon #13 Posted by jolko 12 years ago
its the la chupacabra
Comment icon #14 Posted by Paranomali 12 years ago
That is one seriously cool dino
Comment icon #15 Posted by NikkiAidyn 12 years ago
So cool. I want one for a pet.
Comment icon #16 Posted by Eldorado 11 years ago
The 200-million-year-old dinosaur "was two-legged, probably fleet-footed, and had grasping hands," Sounds more like a shoplifter on speed than Dracula, imo.


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