A research team from the University of Bristol believe the Chinese Psittacosaurus is the first of its species to use the unique method that was deployed to confuse predators
Scientists have discovered an incredible dinosaur that changed the colour of its skin to camouflage itself from predators.
Researchers made the breakthrough find while studying well-preserved fossils of the Chinese Psittacosaurus which were walking the earth up to 133 million years ago.
The team from the University of Bristol found that the prehistoric beast used a type of camouflage called counter-shading.
This is where its underside becomes light and its upper portion is darker which makes the animal appear flat and confuses their predators.
Scientists explained how this is the first ever time camouflage behaviour has been seen in dinosaurs
They also believe its behaviour showed it must have lived in a forest because the "dinosaur’s patterns would have been cryptic in a forest, but not open, habitat."
Dinosaur carcass
Scientists have discovered an incredible dinosaur that changed the colour of its skin to camouflage itself from predators.
Researchers made the breakthrough find while studying well-preserved fossils of the Chinese Psittacosaurus which were walking the earth up to 133 million years ago.
The team from the University of Bristol found that the prehistoric beast used a type of camouflage called counter-shading.
This is where its underside becomes light and its upper portion is darker which makes the animal appear flat and confuses their predators.
Scientists explained how this is the first ever time camouflage behaviour has been seen in dinosaurs
They also believe its behaviour showed it must have lived in a forest because the "dinosaur’s patterns would have been cryptic in a forest, but not open, habitat."
Psittacosaurus means "parrot-lizard" named after its parrot-like beak. It was an early relative of the three-horned Triceratops.
Dr Vinther said: "We predicted that the psittacosaur must have lived in a forest.
"This demonstrates that fossil colour patterns can provide not only a better picture of what extinct animals looked like, but they can also give new clues about extinct ecologies and habitats."




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