Scientists in South Korea have developed a robot called Robopteryx to gain insights into the evolution of dinosaur wings. The challenge for researchers studying dinosaur behavior is the lack of living creatures to observe. However, the South Korean team saw this as an opportunity to overcome and built a robot that resembles the prehistoric omnivore Caudipteryx. The purpose of Robopteryx is to test theories about the origins of birds’ wings and tails.
Before the first feathered flight, some dinosaurs developed feathered forearms and tails, although these were too weak for flight. The driving force behind their evolution remains a subject of debate among dinosaur experts. Various benefits have been proposed for these small “proto-wings,” including their use as insect nets, preventing prey from escaping, enabling long hops and gliding, and providing warmth to the animal and its offspring. Another hypothesis suggests that dinosaurs used their feathered appendages in threatening displays to flush out insects and prey from hiding places.
To test this hypothesis, the scientists placed Robopteryx in front of grasshoppers and made it perform different wing and tail movements. These movements were designed to mimic displays that Caudipteryx might have performed around 124 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period. The researchers observed that grasshoppers were more likely to flee when Robopteryx deployed its wings compared to when it did not. The most effective displays involved sweeping the wings back and then swooping them down and forwards. Adding white patches to the black wings and large tail feathers to the display further increased the grasshoppers’ tendency to flee.
The scientists believe that these flush displays trigger ancient escape circuitry in the insect brain, causing the grasshoppers to run. However, once out in the open, they become more vulnerable to predators. If some feathered dinosaurs used this hunting strategy, it could have driven the evolution of larger and stiffer feathers.
The research faced multiple rejections from 11 journals before being accepted for publication in Scientific Reports. Some scientists remain skeptical of the findings. Michael Benton, a professor of vertebrate paleontology at the University of Bristol, expressed doubts about the idea. While flight-type feathers originated in dinosaurs with tiny wings, he suggests that these feathers may have been used for gliding rather than powered flight. Benton points out that half a wing can be a great adaptation for non-powered flight or gliding, as seen in modern gliding lizards and mammals.
While the debate continues among scientists, the research conducted by the South Korean team sheds light on the potential role of threatening displays in the evolution of dinosaur wings. By using Robopteryx to mimic the movements of Caudipteryx, the researchers were able to observe the reactions of grasshoppers and draw connections to ancient escape mechanisms. This study adds to our understanding of dinosaur behavior and the factors that influenced the development of wings in birds. Further research and analysis will be necessary to fully unravel the mysteries of dinosaur wing evolution.