Artist’s concept of
Shuvuuia deserti, a dinosaur that, while small, had very efficient night vision and hearing. Image via Viktor Radermaker/ SciTechDaily.
There are many modern-day nocturnal predators, animals that hunt at night under cover of darkness, including barn owls, bats, leopards and hyenas. But what about 100 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs? Were there any nocturnal beasts roaming around in the dark way back then? New research suggests there were.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed senses of hearing, smell, and specially adapted eyesight. Scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg have announced a new fossil analysis with evidence that two different species of theropods – three-toed, bidepal carnivorous dinosaurs – displayed these kinds of advanced nocturnal abilities.
New research shows that a small dinosaur called Shuvuuia deserti, that lived in the deserts of what's now Mongolia, had exceptional night vision and hearing, similar to modern day owls and other night predators.