Evidence a Young Flightless Cretaceous Bird Hesperornis Escaped a Plesiosaur attack

Hesperornis escapes plesiosaur attack

Authors:

Martin et al

Abstract:

Evidence from the Pierre Shale (Late Cretaceous) of South Dakota is presented for an attack on a juvenile Hesperornis by a polycotylid plesiosaur. The wound healed and the Hesperornis grew to maturity. Evidence of survival provides our best information about predator prey interactions in the fossil record but are rare for birds where survival is an unlikely outcome.