A research team from the University of Bristol believe the Chinese Psittacosaurus is the first of its species to use the unique method that was deployed to confuse predators
Scientists have discovered an incredible dinosaur that changed the colour of its skin to camouflage itself from predators.
Researchers made the breakthrough find while studying well-preserved fossils of the Chinese Psittacosaurus - which were walking the earth up to 133 million years ago.
The team from the University of Bristol found that the prehistoric beast used a type of camouflage called counter-shading.
This is where its underside becomes light and its upper portion is darker - which makes the animal appear flat and confuses their predators.
Scientists explained how this is the first ever time camouflage behaviour has been seen in dinosaurs.
They also believe its behaviour showed it must have lived in a forest because the “dinosaur’s patterns would have been cryptic in a forest, but not open, habitat.”
Paleontologist and co-author of the study Jakob Vinther said the creature was "very cute" and they could have turned into great pets, had they not become extinct.
Psittacosaurus means "parrot-lizard" named after its parrot-like beak. It was an early relative of the three-horned Triceratops.
They lived in north-eastern China from 133 million - 120 million years ago.
Dr Vinther said: "We predicted that the psittacosaur must have lived in a forest.
“This demonstrates that fossil colour patterns can provide not only a better picture of what extinct animals looked like, but they can also give new clues about extinct
