⚡Researchers identified a new dinosaur species from rare fossils, with evidence suggesting it specialized in eating fruit.

What it means

Researchers have identified a new dinosaur species, Infernogallus jamesi (nicknamed 'hell chicken'), from rare fossils found in the Hell Creek Formation. The species is an oviraptorosaur with a parrot-like beak and jaw adaptations specialized for eating fruit, making it one of the first known fruit-eating non-avian dinosaurs. The findings were published in Nature Communications based on CT scans of an exceptionally preserved skull.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on a peer-reviewed study in Nature Communications, a leading scientific journal. The reporting by Phys.org and other outlets accurately reflects the primary research, though the 'first known fruit-eating dinosaur' framing may be nuanced as earlier evidence exists for herbivory in some dinosaurs.

How new

This is genuinely new research, reported in late October 2026, with no indication of older material resurfacing.

Go deeper

• Channel News Asia — first to publish