Infernogallus jamesi: New fruit-eating dinosaur species identified

Infernogallus jamesi paleontology Cretaceous period Hell Creek Formation frugivorous dinosaur

Paleontologists have identified a new species of dinosaur, Infernogallus jamesi, which appears to have been the first known frugivore. The species, nicknamed the “hell chicken,” lived approximately 66 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period.

Found in the Hell Creek Formation across Montana and North Dakota, the fossils include a nearly complete skeleton and jaw bones. Measuring about 1.5 meters in length and weighing roughly 12 kilograms, the turkey-sized dinosaur belonged to the caenagnathid group of feathered theropods. Unlike its carnivorous relatives, Infernogallus possessed a toothless, parrot-like beak and a unique jaw muscle arrangement that allowed for forward and backward movements to crush soft fruits.

The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that this species inhabited subtropical coastal floodplains alongside well-known dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. Researchers believe the dinosaur's specialized diet highlights the adaptability of theropods and their potential role in the dispersal of early flowering plants.

Entities

Greg Fanton · Greg Funston · Gregory Funston · Hell Creek formation · Infernogallus jamesi · Montana · Nature Communications · Stony Brook University

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The dinosaur had a beak and lacked teeth, indicating a diet of soft foods like fruit. www.ertnews.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The dinosaur was approximately 1.5 meters long and weighed about 11.3 kilograms. www.ertnews.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Infernogallus jamesi lived approximately 66 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. www.ertnews.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The species belonged to the theropod family. www.ertnews.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Scientists discovered a new dinosaur species named Infernogallus jamesi. www.ertnews.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Fossils were found in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. www.ertnews.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.tanea.gr