Corythoraptor Segments

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These are Prehistoric Planet segments which feature Corythoraptor.

Forests

A flock of Corythoraptors

“ This is east Asia. In these mountain forests, autumn arrives early. This is when many trees produce their fruit, and amongst the most highly-prized are the nuts of the gingko tree. A bonanza for dinosaurs called Corythoraptors. These have found a particularly abundant fall of fruit, but such gatherings can attract unwelcome attention. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

In the fourth segment of Forests, as autumn takes hold of the temperate woods of southern China, a group of Corythoraptors feast on an abundance of fallen gingko nuts. But as they enjoy their banquet, a 9-meter (30-foot) female Qianzhousaurus sneaks in on them, hoping to catch one. Even with little cover to hide her, the flock of oviraptorids have yet to notice the tyrannosaur. However, as she took one step closer to her chosen prey, they pick up the sound of leaves rustling under her foot. Deciding that she is close enough, the Qianzhousaurus rushes at the members of the flock, all of which manage to scamper away, squawking.

“ She has failed. But then, most hunts throughout the history of life fail most of the time. As the seasonal winds strengthen, many of the trees in these temperate forests start to lose their leaves. Winter will be a time of hardship. Nevertheless, a storm does create a brief opportunity for hunters. She's trying again. She's less-conspicuous in the gloom, and the gusting wind is distracting. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Even so, the Qianzhousaurus tries again. As a storm forms over the forests, foreshadowing the arrival of the winter, the tyrannosaur takes advantage of the gloom concealing her and the loud gusts of wind drowning out the sound of her footsteps. Sensing the predator incoming, a Corythoraptor tries to dash away, but by that time, it is too late, and with a single lunge, the Qianzhousaurus grabs the oviraptorid by the back, finishing the job by crushing her prey's neck.

“ An 80-pound prize. All the more valuable since winter is now closing in. ”

― David Attenborough, Forests

Having earned her meal, the Qianzhousaurus picks up the dead Corythoraptor by the base of its neck and walks away, either to feed on it herself, or to share it with family.

Badlands

“ Having clever, caring parents can give youngsters an excellent start. And here in the badlands of Asia, there are few more dedicated dinosaur parents than these. A colony of nesting Corythoraptors. A few days ago, females laid eggs on these circular mounds. But the job of brooding them falls to the males. And that is not easy. Exposed to the midday sun, the eggs would soon cook. But the fathers use their broad tail and fallen feathers to keep the nest shaded... and pay a heavy price, enduring hour after hour in the searing heat. ”

― David Attenborough, Badlands

In the third segment of Badlands, a colony of male Corythoraptors brood over the nests of the females. One male is seen rearranging the eggs in his nest, ensuring a proper distribution of eggs on the circular mounds so he can shade them all equally once he sits on them. For hours, the males do nothing but sit atop their eggs, shading them from the hot desert sun at the cost of their own health as they wait for the sun to finally set.

“ At last, in the cool of the evening, the males can step away in search of food. This is where nesting in a colony brings benefits. Instead of all leaving at once, the Corythoraptors take turns, so there's always a neighbor keeping an eye out for danger. But even this neighborhood watch can't guarantee their safety. ”

― David Attenborough, Badlands

When the day has ended at last, some of the Corythoraptors leave the nests to hunt for food during the cool night, while the rest stay to guard over the colony's nests. A Kuru kulla, taking advantage of her better night vision, stealthily targets a nest that seems less guarded than the others, and feasts on at least four eggs before being spotted, the sentry alerting the other Corythoraptors present with bird-like calls. The dromaeosaur picks up one last egg from the nest and rushes away as the Corythoraptors pursue her, failing to catch the intruder.

“ She now has a chance to enjoy her stolen egg in peace. But this thief shares her spoils. With these purring sounds, she calls her young. Her chicks are not long out of the nest themselves. They need to learn that this strange, new object is food, and discover how to break into it. ”

― David Attenborough, Badlands

The Kuru kulla arrives to a far-off area with her stolen egg, and calls out to her two chicks, giving them the egg and letting them know that it is something to eat. The two hatchlings try poking and pushing the egg, and in the end, push it off a low ledge, shattering it on the rocks and allowing them to feast on the contents.

Uncovered: Were Dinosaurs Good Parents?

	Were Dinosaurs Good Parents?
	Subject The parenting strategies dinosaurs used to ensure the survival of their brood. Experts Dr. Darren Naish

Were Dinosaurs Good Parents?

Subject
The parenting strategies dinosaurs used to ensure the survival of their brood.

Experts
Dr. Darren Naish

Footage of the Corythoraptor males taking care of their nests in Badlands is shown in this Uncovered segment, dedicated to discussing whether dinosaurs were good parents.

One strategy of keeping their eggs safe and warm involves the standard plan of building nests and sitting on top of these nests. Proof is seen in the usual example of this, preserved fossils of oviraptorids that died sitting on their unhatched eggs, some of which contain embryos. Even so, this method of egg incubation has downsides.

“ Having to sit on an egg and actually look after it means that you are committed to the care of that egg for the entire duration of their development up until the point of hatching. ”

― Dr. Darren Naish, Lead Scientific Consultant

While for some dinosaurs, this commitment was worth making, it isn't a feasible strategy for larger dinosaurs like sauropods, which would have crushed their eggs under their immense mass if they attempted to do the same. Hence, the rest of the Uncovered segment discusses evidence regarding the means by which sauropods took care of their eggs, namely, by placing them in a trench dug in the Earth, covering them in rotting vegetation (which produces enough heat for several weeks while decomposing), and even using the heat produced by nearby volcanic features to keep them warm.