First dinosaur cloaca discovered

[Carnoferox]

A new study has examined the first preserved cloaca from a dinosaur ever discovered.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.11.335398v1

[Eldorado]

The first dinosaur butthole ever discovered is shedding light where the sun don't shine. The discovery reveals how dinosaurs used this multipurpose opening — scientifically known as a cloacal vent — for pooping, peeing, breeding and egg laying. 

The dinosaur's derrière is so well preserved, researchers could see the remnants of two small bulges by its "back door," which might have housed musky scent glands that the reptile possibly used during courtship — an anatomical quirk also seen in living crocodilians, said scientists who studied the specimen.

Although this dinosaur's caboose shares some characteristics with the backsides of some living creatures, it's also a one-of-a-kind opening, the researchers found.

Full article at Live Science: Link

[+OverSword]

Funny how you are so adept at finding stories like this @Eldorado

[acute]

Nice to know!

[jethrofloyd]

I am in doubt what 'smile' to click for this kind of news? 

[Carnoferox]

This new study is from a different group of authors than the one I originally posted, although still about the same specimen. I can't say too much about the situation at this time, so I'll let you try to guess why this happened.