Dinosaurs are still an area of interest to scientists and ordinary citizens, especially, when it comes to unique characteristics, which would constitute almost a legend. One of such questions is whether there were some dinosaurs which were venomous. The idea of dinosaurs as poisonous animals is dramatic yet this subject has been discussed by the scholars. Though most dinosaurs predated and defended themselves with teeth, claws and size, some fossils have shed some light on the aspect of possessing the venom-like abilities.
What Venom Means in Animals
Venom is a gland secreted poison that is either injected through bites, stings or spines. It is not such as poison that is dangerous to be taken in or touched. To confirm the venom, scientists want definite fossil record like the grooves on teeth that are related to the venom glands.
The Sinornithosaurus Case.
Sinornithosaurus is the dinosaur that is best commonly linked to the venom hypotheses. Its teeth were grooved and some scientists thought that they would be able to give a venom. Such grooves however were subsequently suggested by researches as more of hardening teeth, than of poisoning them.
It is difficult to prove the presence of venom because of this reason.
Soft tissular fossils like venom glands are not easily fossilized. One cannot determine venom in extinct animals by this fact with any certainty. The scientists must rely on indirect suggestions which can be assigned normally in other ways.
Nails Marks Do not always mean Poison.
There are not many animals of today that have grooved teeth and are venomous. This kind of grooves could help to maintain the grip on the prey, or reduce the tooth pressure. So furrows in themselves are not enough marks of venom.
The confirmed venom glands none.
There is no record of any dinosaur remnants dating back to have evidence of glands of poison. Glands and delivery systems are not known to be preserved to allow the claims about the venom to be regarded as hypothetical. This keeps the idea unproven.
Comparison With the Reptiles of the Modern World.
The contemporary world also uses venom or poisonous salivary to the benefit of other reptiles like snakes and Komodo dragons. Dinosaurs resembled reptiles, but this does not mean that they were reptiles that were similar in the venom. The change is not always so progressive.
It Was Noisy Hunting without Sting.
Most dinosaurs are already very effective weaponless predators. They also had a great advantage of their sharp teeth, speed, pack behavior, and size. Venom may not be a necessity to live.
What the Sciences are now agreeing in.
The majority of paleontologists believe that there is no hard evidence on poisonous dinosaurs. Despite the fact that the idea is intriguing, it has not been proven. The modern research is leaning towards the notion that dinosaurs were harmless.
Why the Concept Still Astonishes Us.
Toxic dinosaurs are most interesting in that they are full of confusion in terms of science and fiction. They cause us to believe how we have no idea about the past so much. The question exists because of curiosity even where there is no evidence.
