Millions of years ago, a birdlike dinosaur, known as the “chicken from hell,” roamed the North American continent. Weighing around 170 pounds, it sported a toothless beak and was blanketed by a layer of feathers.
The previously unknown prehistoric creature was recently identified using fossilized bones found in South Dakota, according to a study published last week in the journal PLOS One.
The bones, including a femur and tibia, were discovered in Meade County, which makes up part of the Hell Creek Formation, a swath of sedimentary rock littered with the remains of old plant and animal life.
While studying the bones, Oklahoma State University researchers initially thought they might belong to a larger dinosaur called Anzu wyliei. However, histology tests revealed they had stumbled upon a brand-new species.
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The newfound avian dinosaur is a type of oviraptorosaur, a family of human-sized theropods with slender limbs and grasping hands.
The newfound creature is a type of oviraptorosaur, a family of human-sized theropods with slender limbs and grasping hands.