NEW DELHI: Tinier than the teeniest bird, older than T Rex and perfectly preserved for eternity: scientists have identified a 100-million-year-old flying dinosaur encased in amber that may be the smallest yet discovered.
The skull of Oculudentavis khaungraae was found in a globule of amber in Myanmar. The preserved skull is just 7.1mm (less than one-third of an inch) long. It would have been smaller than the smallest bird alive today, the bee hummingbird. Despite its minuscule size, researchers believe it hunted insects, using its sharp teeth and large eyes to home in on prey.
The skull of Oculudentavis khaungraae was found in a globule of amber in Myanmar. The preserved skull is just 7.1mm (less than one-third of an inch) long. It would have been smaller than the smallest bird alive today, the bee hummingbird. Despite its minuscule size, researchers believe it hunted insects, using its sharp teeth and large eyes to home in on prey.