A baby Leptoceratops lets out a shrill squeal as a sickle claw presses delicately against the back of its neck. Deep in the forest, its mother follows the distant cries of her missing hatchling. As she gets closer, the wailing abruptly stops, the baby has bled out. The bait is gone, but with his prey now within reach, the Dakotaraptor has one final trick. He uses his syrinx, the vocal organ unique to birds, and mimics the cries of the dead hatchling. The calls sound slightly off, but with her baby’s scent lingering in the air, the mother trots forward, right into the trap.

The Melon Heads

The idea of Deinonychus as a pack hunter is a topic of debate among paleontologists. While no direct evidence exists, multiple Deinonychus fossils have been discovered near Tenontosaurus remains. This association could suggest scavenging or opportunistic feeding rather than coordinated pack hunting, but the possibility cannot be ruled out. Interestingly, most modern birds do not engage in coordinated pack hunting—except for the Harris hawk. These hawks, often described as "wolves with wings," employ complex and sophisticated tactics to take down large prey. I like to imagine Deinonychus as the Harris hawk of the dromaeosaurs.

Dimorphodon was a pterosaur that lived in Europe around 191 million years ago. It had an unusually large head with a distinctive mouth, equipped with two types of teeth. Its wingspan was relatively small compared to its body, limiting it to short, frantic bursts of flight. Likely a skilled climber, it would have moved between trees, hunting insects and small vertebrates.

From a little poetic field guide I’m working on

From a little poetic field guide I’m working on