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ScienceQuiet 6d · day 12

Scientists discover first known fruit-eating dinosaur, a turkey-sized 'hell chicken'

A newly identified dinosaur species from 66 million years ago challenges assumptions about prehistoric diets.

newest coverage 5d agosummary written 8d ago38 pieces Google NewsNewswiresReddit

What to know

  • A newly identified 66-million-year-old dinosaur species is the first known specialized fruit-eater, challenging long-held assumptions about dinosaur diets being primarily meat-based.
  • The turkey-sized creature, nicknamed the 'hell chicken,' possessed a distinctive beak and mashing jaw adapted for processing fruit rather than tearing flesh.
  • The fossil was discovered in the US and is housed at the Natural History Museum, with research from Stony Brook University paleontologists and partner institutions.

“New Species Of Funky Fruit-Eating 'Hell Chicken' May Be the First Known Dinosaur Frugivore”

IFLScience · IFLScience ↗ · Oct 27, 1:08 PM

Paleontologists at Stony Brook University and collaborating institutions Discovery teamNatural History Museum Specimen repositoryRoyal Ontario Museum Research partner

How it unfolded 5 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 6 pieces in 3h at Oct 30, 7 AM; 38 pieces over 12 days (37 articles · 1 post) Oct 27, 1 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 27, 4 AM — quietOct 27, 7 AM — quietOct 27, 10 AM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Google News 4Oct 27, 1 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Oct 27, 4 PM — quietOct 27, 7 PM — quietOct 27, 10 PM — quietOct 28, 1 AM — quietOct 28, 4 AM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Google News 4Oct 28, 7 AM — quietOct 28, 10 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 3Oct 28, 1 PM — quietOct 28, 4 PM — quietOct 28, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 10 PM — quietOct 29, 1 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — quietOct 29, 7 AM — quietOct 29, 10 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Oct 29, 1 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 7 PM — quietOct 29, 10 PM — quietOct 30, 1 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 7 AM — 6 pieces · 6 articles — Google News 5, Newswires 1Oct 30, 10 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 3Oct 30, 1 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 7 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 1 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 31, 7 AM — 5 pieces · 5 articles — Google News 5Oct 31, 10 AM — quietOct 31, 1 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Nov 1, 12 PM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 12 AM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Newswires 1, Reddit 1Nov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Nov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quiet 12–345
Oct 28Oct 29Oct 30Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6now · 11:26 AM ET
  1. 5

    Discovery reaches mainstream media coverage across multiple outlets

    The 'hell chicken' dinosaur story gained widespread international news coverage as outlets including Reuters, Yahoo News, India Today, and Channel News Asia published reports on the findings.

    “Not all dinosaurs ate meat. This 66-million-year-old 'hell chicken' loved fruit…”
    — India Today · source
  2. 1 day quiet
  3. 4

    Royal Ontario Museum and research institutions amplify findings

    Multiple scientific institutions including the Royal Ontario Museum distributed information about the discovery, expanding media coverage and public awareness of the fruit-eating dinosaur.

    “Turkey-sized 'hell chicken' dinosaur had a jaw suited to mashing fruit…”
    — The Brighter Side of News · source
    1. 4 outlets Stony Brook Paleontologist Dinosaur Discovery Reveals a Specialized Fruit Eater

      first by SBU News, 11d ago · also Newswise, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), EurekAlert!

      3 more headlines
  4. 3

    Fossil analysis reveals jaw structure suited to mashing fruit

    Detailed examination of the specimen's anatomy confirmed it was a turkey-sized dinosaur with a beak and jaw specifically adapted for processing fruit. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about dinosaur diets.

    “Meet the 'hell chicken,' a feisty little dinosaur who feasted on fruit…”
    — CBC · source
    1. 2 outlets Fossil discovery reveals fruit-eating dinosaur in the Cretaceous period

      first by Mid-Day, 7d ago · also Science X

      1 more headline
    2. 1 outlet Turkey-sized ‘hell chicken’ dinosaur had a jaw suited to mashing fruit

      first by The Brighter Side of News, 11d ago

    1 more claim →
  5. 2

    Scientists characterize new dinosaur as first known fruit-eater

    Paleontologists released findings identifying the specimen as a specialized frugivore, the first known dinosaur adapted for eating fruit rather than meat. The species was given the informal name 'hell chicken' due to its distinctive appearance.

    1. 13 outlets Strange beaked ‘hell chicken’ is the first fruit-eating dinosaur

      first by CP24, 9d ago · also The Independent, The Economic Times, NY Post, New York Post, Nautilus, Yahoo +6

      6 more headlines
    2. 4 outlets ‘Hell chicken’ dinosaur likely dined on fruit, not meat

      first by Yahoo, 9d ago · also India Today, NDTV, Popular Science

      2 more headlines
    2 more claims →
  6. 1

    Fossil of previously unknown dinosaur species identified at Natural History Museum

    A newly discovered fossil specimen was identified at the Natural History Museum, marking the initial recognition of what would later be characterized as a fruit-eating dinosaur species.

    1. 1 outlet first by The Independent, 12d ago · read ↗