Which Dinosaurs Were Small Carnivores?
Are you looking for an easy way to teach your child about dinosaurs? We’ve put together a set of free materials that parents and teachers can use right away. In this lesson, your child will dive into the fascinating world of small carnivores.
We’ll explore the clever hunting strategies of several small, meat-eating dinosaurs. Explore science in a more engaging way with captivating 3D videos and interactive quizzes. Download our app to get started!
Table of Contents
What You Will Learn From This Lesson
- Deinonychus used its sickle-like claw to injure prey.
- Troodon used its large brain for clever hunting tactics.
- Velociraptors hunted together as a highly effective team.
- Microraptor glided from branches to capture small prey.
What Made the Deinonychus a Fierce Hunter?
The Deinonychus was an agile, small carnivore that successfully hunted larger prey, such as the Tenontosaurus. Its characteristic feature was a large, sickle-like claw on the second toe of its hind feet. This massive claw, which could be up to 6 inches long with the keratin layer, was held off the ground while the dinosaur walked and ran. When attacking, the Deinonychus used its sharp, flexible claws to pierce and puncture the prey, causing an injury that weakened it and led to a collapse. This skillful hunter roamed North America about 110 million years ago.
How Did the Troodon Use Its Brain to Hunt?
The Troodon was a smart dinosaur known for its large brain size, which scientists believe was apple-sized. This high intelligence allowed it to use clever hunting strategies, often hunting in packs with smart tactics. One strategy was to separate a baby animal, like a young Pachyrhinosaurus, from its parents and then corner it. The Troodon also had excellent vision and large eyes, which enabled it to see well and hunt effectively at night.
Why Did Velociraptors Hunt Together?
The Velociraptor was a tiny, small, and extremely agile predator. Its long, flexible tail, which was about half its body length, helped it balance, avoid obstacles, and turn swiftly during a hunt. Velociraptors worked together as a team to hunt prey like the plant-eating Protoceratops. The teamwork strategy involved one raptor distracting the prey while its teammates attacked, making the combined effort highly effective.
How Did the Microraptor Hunt From Above?
The Microraptor was another agile hunter that used a unique method to catch its food. It would climb high up on branches to increase its sightline and lengthen its glide. The Microraptor captured small prey, such as insects, while gliding in the air. It used its hind wings and tail to help it steer with skill while flying.
Fun Fact
- The Deinonychus held its deadly 6-inch sickle-like claw off the ground while running to prevent injury.
- The Troodon’s brain was about the size of an apple, much larger than the Stegosaurus’s walnut-sized brain.
- The Velociraptor’s flexible tail, which was half its body length, was critical for swift turns while chasing prey.
- Troodon’s huge eyes gave it excellent vision, allowing it to successfully hunt even in the dark.
- The small Microraptor climbed high so it could glide and capture insects mid-air.
Vocabulary
- Deinonychus: An agile, small carnivore from the Cretaceous period with sickle-like toe claws used to puncture prey.
- Tenontosaurus: A large dinosaur that was prey for the smaller Deinonychus.
- Troodon: A small, highly intelligent carnivore from the late Cretaceous period known for its large brain size and excellent nighttime vision.
- Velociraptor: A tiny, slender, and extremely agile predator that hunted in teams using its long, flexible tail for balance and swift turns.
- Protoceratops: A plant-eating dinosaur that was often hunted by a team of Velociraptors.
- Microraptor: An agile hunter that climbed high and used its hind wings and tail to steer while gliding to catch insects.