S12DB23 Were Dinosaurs Venomous

Were any dinosaurs venomous? The idea has made headlines, but the evidence for the best-known candidate, Sinornithosaurus, doesn't hold up. In this Dinosaur Bite, Iszi Lawrence and Dr Dave Hone look at the claim that this small dinosaur had venom-delivering teeth. Dave explains why the supposed venom groove is better understood as part of the process of tooth replacement, and why the apparent space for a venom gland in its skull is far from convincing. The discussion also gets into the difference between venomous and poisonous animals, and why it can be difficult to tell what a fossil's anatomy really means. The answer is less sensational than a venomous dinosaur, but it's a useful example of how a striking idea can catch on even after the evidence has been challenged.

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