A newly discovered fossil of a small alvarezsaurid, named Alnashetri cerropoliciensis, challenges previous beliefs about these dinosaurs, which were thought to have evolved smaller bodies to specialize in feeding on ants and termites. Instead, this species likely hunted insects and small mammals, suggesting that the evolutionary path of these miniature dinosaurs was more complex than previously understood. Alvarezsaurids are characterized by their short forelimbs and specialized digging claws, features that supported the earlier ant-eating hypothesis.
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