So I think it's about to find out once in for all who really deserves the name of "Ducky", we have 4 contestants (well 5 with Natovenator), we have the plant loving Hadrosaurs popularly seen as aquatic and old paleomedia, then we have Spinosaurus which is way more popularly seen as aquatic, but let's not forget about Halzkaraptor which has been said to be waterfowl-like and it's more recently discovered cousin the Natovenator, and finally we have the weirdo of the ostrich dinosaurs itself Deinocheirus. This challenge will be showing how closely related they are to Anas (or the genus of the Duck), and if their lifestyles match that of today's ducks.
Challenge #1: Relation
Our first challenge how closely related they are, and looks like the Hadrosaurs are in big trouble here because they are ornithischians and not theropods like the other contestants, but Spinosaurus comes right after these supposed "duckbill dinosaurs", being a Megalosauroid a Spinosaurid to be specific, but then in 3rd place we have Deinocheirus being an ostrich dinosaur which are much closer to maniraptorans than to any other theropod but not as close to birds, but then in 1st and 2nd place we have Halzkaraptor and Natovenator which are true paravians which are very close to birds in the Avialan group. So we have our winners both Halzkaraptor and Natovenator.
Challenge #2: Lifestyle
Hadrosaurs like the last challenge go in dead last, Spinosaurus if this were to be in a pre-2023 post then yes it would get a pass but due to a recent paper it's now considered to be an awkward swimmer, Deinocheirus we do have proof of its being somewhat aquatic, with it's snout and preserved fish scales in it's belly so it gets a pass, now the dromaeosaur duo comes in and due to Natovenator's paper these 2 also get a pass, so no both Hadrosaurs and Spinosaurus are now eliminated and now onto the tiebreaker round.
Challenge #3: Duck-likeness
Well with both Halzkaraptor and Natovenator they are both appropriately small, with Natovenator looking more like a duck but a non-avian dinosaur, and this leaves Deinocheirus yes has a beak but it is too large so Natovenator gets the point.
The Non-Avian Dinosaur Who Gets the Name of Ducky Is: Natovenator, sorry Hadrosaurs you don't get that name anymore.
