October 21, 2009
Scientists have found the fossilized remains of the smallest dinosaur yet discovered in North America, a house-pet sized creature that would have scurried between the legs of its larger relatives.
The new species, Fruitadens haagarorum, weighed less than 2 pounds and was about 28 inches long, scientists say.
The tiny dinosaur would have been an agile and fast runner, said study coauthor Luis Chiappe, director of the Los Angeles Natural History Museum's Dinosaur Institute. It had to be nimble to survive the hazardous time in which it lived, the late Jurassic period 150 million years ago, which was ruled by giant meat-eaters such as the allosaurus.
The new species, Fruitadens haagarorum, weighed less than 2 pounds and was about 28 inches long, scientists say.
The tiny dinosaur would have been an agile and fast runner, said study coauthor Luis Chiappe, director of the Los Angeles Natural History Museum's Dinosaur Institute. It had to be nimble to survive the hazardous time in which it lived, the late Jurassic period 150 million years ago, which was ruled by giant meat-eaters such as the allosaurus.
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