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https://paleontology.us/oldest-dinosaur-embryo-found/ Paleontology_US Tue, 13 Oct 2020 09:12:47 +0000 Curiosities https://paleontology.us/?p=1830 Oldest dinosaur embryos ever found A group of American paleontologists has identified the oldest dinosaur embryos discovered so far. Preserved almost intact inside eggs found in 1976 in South Africa, they belong to a species that lived 190 million years ago, and which was the ancestor of the giant four-legged, long-necked prosauropods, such as Diplodocus. […]
A group of American paleontologists has identified the oldest dinosaur embryos discovered so far. Preserved almost intact inside eggs found in 1976 in South Africa, they belong to a species that lived 190 million years ago, and which was the ancestor of the giant four-legged, long-necked prosauropods , such as Diplodocus.
According to a new study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, these are embryos of a species of herbivore called Massospondylus . The researchers, led by Professor Robert Reisz, of the University of Toronto Mississauga, used the fossil fetuses to reconstruct babies of these dinosaurs and determine what their anatomy was like when they roamed the Earth. And they concluded that, unlike adult individuals, Massospondylus embryos had long forelimbs, disproportionately large heads, and quadruped locomotion.
In addition, “as in the human species, Massospondylus babies began to walk on four limbs, until they were able to walk on two legs,†Reisz explained. If we take into account that, in addition, they were born without teeth, paleontologists suspect that these dinosaurs, which were approximately 20 centimetres long at birth, needed the attention of their parents until their necks and hind limbs were large enough.
The prosauropods are the first dinosaurs to diversify widely, becoming the most widespread group on Earth, so their biology is particularly interesting to understand “the dawn of the age of dinosaurs.â€
Also read: All Dinosaurs May Have Been Warm-Blooded
https://paleontology.us/antarctica-was-covered-with-forests-in-the-time-of-the-dinosaurs/ Paleontology_US Thu, 17 Sep 2020 12:38:36 +0000 Curiosities https://paleontology.us/?p=1751 A team of scientists finds remains of pollen, spores and even roots in a sediment sample from 90 million years ago found in the Amundsen Sea. His analysis has made it possible to reconstruct the climate of that time and reach surprising conclusions. 90 million years ago, when the dinosaurs were at their peak, the west coast of […]
A team of scientists finds remains of pollen, spores and even roots in a sediment sample from 90 million years ago found in the Amundsen Sea. His analysis has made it possible to reconstruct the climate of that time and reach surprising conclusions.
90 million years ago, when the dinosaurs were at their peak, the west coast of Antarctica was a very different place from what we know today: its average annual temperature was 12 ° C and it was covered with temperate forests. This is the fascinating discovery that an international team of scientists has made after analyzing a sample of Cretaceous sediments found in the Amundsen Sea in 2017.
It is known that the Middle Cretaceous was the warmest period on our planet in the last 140 million years. At that time, when dinosaurs were still roaming around, the sea level was 170 times higher than today and it is estimated that the temperature of the ocean at the height of the tropics would have reached 35 ° C, but it is known very little about what the conditions were in the polar circles.
The team of scientists, from different institutions in Germany and the United Kingdom, was near the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers taking sediment samples with a drilling platform 30 meters deep from the seabed. “ When we did a first evaluation of the samples on board the ship, we were struck by the coloration of the core of the sediment, it was clearly different from the upper layers ,†explains Johann Klages, geologist at the Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research at the Alfred Institute. Wegener (Germany) and first author of the work, which is published in Nature .
Once in the laboratory, the scientists analyzed the sediments with X-ray computed tomography. The results revealed that the sample contained a dense tangle of fossil roots, so well preserved that they even allowed them to identify cellular structures. The sample also contained remains of pollen, spores, and even flowering plants that had never been found in these latitudes before . “It is fascinating to see fossil pollen and other plant remains so well preserved in a sediment deposited 90 million years ago,†explains Ulrich Salzmann, a paleoecologist at the University of Northumbria. “All this tells us that the coast of West Antarctica was, at that time, a temperate and swampy forest, very similar to what we can find in New Zealand . todayâ€.
To reconstruct the environment of these prehistoric forests , the scientists looked at the climatic conditions in which the plants descended from those found in the sediment sample live. They also used other biological and geochemical indicators of temperature and precipitation that they found in the sample.
In this way, they concluded that, 90 million years ago, the climate of this region 900 kilometers from the south pole was temperate, with average annual temperatures of 12 ° C (two degrees higher than the average temperature in Germany, for example) . On average, in summer it reached 19 ° C and river water would reach 20 ° C. Furthermore, the amount and intensity of annual precipitation would be similar to that of Wales.
This is an extraordinary discovery, especially considering that at this latitude there are approximately four months a year of absolute darkness. These conditions of precipitation and temperature were possible thanks to three factors: the Antarctic continent would have been covered with dense vegetation, there were no large masses of ice on the earth’s surface and, finally, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was much higher. which had been previously assumed for the Cretaceous period. “Until now, the global concentration in the Cretaceous was thought to be about 1000 parts per million (ppm). But, according to the calculations of our paleoclimatic models, concentration levels of 1120 to 1680 ppm were needed to reach the average temperatures in Antarctica at that time, “explains co-author and climate modeler Gerrit Lohmann.
These results also reveal the enormous capacity of greenhouse gases to heat the atmosphere, as well as the importance of the cooling effect produced by today’s ice sheets. “In the Cretaceous there were also four months in a row without light. But, because the concentration of carbon dioxide was so high, the climate around the South Pole was temperate, with no ice masses, †explains Torsten Bickert, a geoscientist at the center of MARUM research from the University of Bremen.
The question now is to know what was the cause that motivated the drastic cooling of this area, so powerful that it caused the formation of the current ice sheets. Finding the explanation is one of the great challenges facing the international community of climate scientists.
Reference: Klages, JP et al, “Temperate rainforests near the South Pole during peak Cretaceous warmthâ€, Nature, 1 April 2020, DOI: 10.1038 / s41586-020-2148-5
Also read: Were Dinosaurs Very Smart?
https://paleontology.us/were-dinosaurs-very-smart/ Paleontology_US Wed, 09 Sep 2020 07:24:22 +0000 Curiosities https://paleontology.us/?p=1738 How Smart Were Dinosaurs? Some paleontologists point out that the most insightful may have been the small theropods of the genus Troodon, which lived about 70 million years ago in present-day North America. They weren’t very big, just over six feet long and one meter tall, weighing around 50 kilos, but apparently they had relatively […]
Some paleontologists point out that the most insightful may have been the small theropods of the genus Troodon, which lived about 70 million years ago in present-day North America.
They weren’t very big, just over six feet long and one meter tall, weighing around 50 kilos, but apparently they had relatively large brains compared to their body mass. In fact, it is often equated with that of modern birds.
The University of Chicago paleontologist James Hopson studied at the end of the 70s of the last century how to apply the so-called encephalization quotient to these animals, which relates the size of the brain to that of the whole organism. Although it is not clear to what extent a higher score on this scale denotes more intelligence, it is assumed that the larger the brain is in relation to the body, more of it could be occupied with processing complex cognitive tasks.
The human being, with a quotient between 7.4 and 7.8, dominates this scale. Among the mammals , some dolphins would follow, with between 4 and 5. According to Hopson, the Troodon would reach 5.8, while most carnivorous dinosaurs would not reach 2 and the large herbivorous dinosaurs , such as sauropods , would be found by below 1.
Also read: Smaller Dinosaurs
https://paleontology.us/dinosaurs-were-cold-too/ Paleontology_US Wed, 09 Sep 2020 07:00:37 +0000 Curiosities https://paleontology.us/?p=1734 Dinosaurs were cold too A team of paleontologists from France and China has shown that during a part of the Lower Cretaceous, temperatures were colder than previously assumed , which implies that in the age of the dinosaurs the climate was not always warm. The paleontologists authors of the study determined the temperatures of the time from fossils of […]
AÂ team of paleontologists from France and China has shown that during a part of the Lower Cretaceous , temperatures were colder than previously assumed , which implies that in the age of the dinosaurs the climate was not always warm.
The paleontologists authors of the study determined the temperatures of the time from fossils of dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles and fish from deposits in northeast China , in the Dabeigou, Yixian and Jiufotang formations -Jehol group-, as well as in Japan and Thailand , as published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in its latest edition.
The scientists analyzed the isotopic composition of oxygen in each of the samples and reconstructed the air temperature and living conditions of the dinosaurs of the Early Cretaceous in Asia. The results show that the average temperatures of that period were very similar to those recorded today at equivalent latitudes, so that the Jehol fauna lived under a moderate cold climate characterized by “harsh winters†.
During this period, cold-blooded animals had to hibernate, while warm-blooded animals such as mammals, birds and dinosaurs took advantage of their fur and plumage to maintain their activity in winter. “These results do not prove at all that the feathers arose with an insulating role, but rather that the plumage should provide the Jehol dinosaurs with a physiological advantage over their contemporaries with scalesâ€, explains Romain Amiot, scientist at the French CNRS and co-author from work.
Also read: When Mammals Replaced Dinosaurs
https://paleontology.us/when-mammals-replaced-dinosaurs/ Paleontology_US Mon, 31 Aug 2020 12:06:06 +0000 Curiosities https://paleontology.us/?p=1727 When dinosaurs became extinct 65 million ago, mammals began to grow, multiplying their size by a thousand in some cases. This is the case of  Deinotherium, a distant relative of elephants that disappeared 2.7 million years ago and weighed 17.00 kilograms. “The dinosaurs disappear and, suddenly, nobody else eats the vegetation. That means a great availability of food , […]
When dinosaurs became extinct 65 million ago, mammals began to grow, multiplying their size by a thousand in some cases. This is the case of Deinotherium , a distant relative of elephants that disappeared 2.7 million years ago and weighed 17.00 kilograms.
“ The dinosaurs disappear and, suddenly, nobody else eats the vegetation. That means a great availability of food , and the mammals begin to eat, and if you are a herbivore it is more efficient to be largeâ€, explains Jessica Theodor, biologist of the University of Calgary (Canada) and co-author with 19 other researchers of the article published today in the journal Science . Mammals, whose weight until then oscillated between 3 grams and 15 kilograms, began to consume this food and in some cases reached up to 17 tons in weight .
For the study, Theodor and his colleagues first analyzed preserved mammalian fossils from all successive periods. In order to demonstrate how much mammals grew after the extinction of the dinosaurs , the researchers collected data on the maximum size of each major group of land mammals from each continent, including perissodactyls (odd-toed ungulates such as horses and rhinos), proboscis (including elephants, mammoths, and mastodons) , xenarthros (anteaters, tree-dwelling sloths, and armadillos), as well as a large number of other groups of now extinct animals.
The results give clues about what factors define the size limits of land mammals : the amount of space available for each animal and the climate in which they live. According to scientists, the colder the climate, the larger the animals , because larger animals conserve heat better.In addition to confirming the extraordinary growth that mammals experienced when the dinosaurs disappeared , the study shows that this evolution took place relatively quickly. “The dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago and in 25 million years the ecosystem was reprogrammed to respond to the growing demand for these ever-larger animals, which is, in geological terms, a short period, a truly evolution fast, “emphasizes Theodor.
Also read: The Most Famous Dinosaurs Of Prehistory
https://paleontology.us/the-most-famous-dinosaurs-of-prehistory/ Paleontology_US Fri, 21 Aug 2020 08:37:13 +0000 Curiosities Dinosaurs https://paleontology.us/?p=1708 The first dinosaurs evolved during the middle to late Triassic period, about 230 million years ago, in the part of the super continent of Pangea that currently corresponds to South America. Before that, the dominant terrestrial reptiles were archosaurs (dominant reptiles), therapsids (mammal-like reptiles), and pelycosaurs (such as the Dimetrodon that lived during the Permian period). The earliest archosaurs are believed […]
The first dinosaurs evolved during the middle to late Triassic period, about 230 million years ago, in the part of the super continent of Pangea that currently corresponds to South America. Before that, the dominant terrestrial reptiles were archosaurs (dominant reptiles), therapsids (mammal-like reptiles), and pelycosaurs (such as the Dimetrodon that lived during the Permian period). The earliest archosaurs are believed to be from the early Triassic period, approximately 227 to 242 million years ago. They evolved quickly and managed to diversify giving rise to carnivores, but also herbivores.
For roughly 20 million years after the evolution of dinosaurs, the most fearsome reptiles on Earth were prehistoric crocodiles. It would take
until the beginning of the Jurassic period,
200 million years ago, for the dinosaurs to make their appearance on the planet and begin their rise to domination.
The dinosaurs lived on Earth for about 215 to 245 million year s (about 64 times more than the time it takes humanity on Earth). All non-avian dinosaurs became extinct about 66 million years ago. And its name is the work of the English naturalist Sir Richard Owen who coined the term Dinosauria in 1842, derived from the Greek deinos, which means “terribly largeâ€, and sauros, which means “lizardâ€.
How many known species are there of extinct dinosaurs? Approximately 700 different species.
Although Mosasaurs, Ichthyosaurs, Pterosaurs, Plesiosaurs, and Dimetrodon are commonly considered dinosaurs, they are not technically dinosaurs. The term “dinosaur†refers only to reptiles that inhabit the earth that have a specific hip structure, among other traits.
Did you know that the name “Velociraptor†means swift thief? Today we will meet the best known dinosaurs and delve into their characteristics and peculiarities. Like the brutal Tyrannosaurus rex bite that was more than twice as powerful as a lion’s bite. It was the most ferocious carnivore of all.
As we have commented previously, there are an infinity of dinosaurs, however there are some better known ones that have even starred in some fantasy films such as Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park, in English).
The Tyranousaurus Rex ( Tyrannosaurus rex) whose name means Tyrant Reptile, lived during the late Cretaceous period . It was 10 to 14 meters long and weighed between four and seven tons (its skull was only 1.5 meters long). It was one of the most ferocious carnivores and also one of the most feared . Despite its size, many paleontologists believe that it could efficiently run after prey and certainly outperform a human. T. rex lived in an area of ​​Earth that now makes up western North America about 66 million years ago.
The Triceratops ( Triceratops horridus ), whose name means Horrible Head with Three Horns, lived during the late Cretaceous period 66-68 million years ago. The adult specimens could be between 8 and 9 meters long and 3 meters high, with a body mass of between 6,000-12,000 kg. With its colossal size, this dinosaur fed on tough, fiber-rich plants. It was the largest of the horned dinosaurs of this stage. The first known fossils of a Triceratops were found near Denver, Colorado in 1887.
The Velociraptor ( Velociraptor mongoliensis ), whose name means “swift or swift thief,†was small in size (approximately 1.8 meters in length and barely 15 kilograms), smarter than most dinosaurs, and a fast runner thanks to its two hind legs. In fact, it could reach up to 65 kilometers per hour, which was great for hunting prey, as it was a carnivore (its favorite prey could be the protoceratops). He lived during the late Cretaceous period and hunted in groups.
The Diplodocus ( Diplodocus longus ), whose name means “double bundleâ€, refers to the strangely shaped bones found in the Diplodocus’ tail (which contained around 80 vertebrae). The end of its tail was so thin that it allowed it to be used as a whip to defend itself from predators. This dinosaur lived in an area that is now western North America at the end of the Jurassic period , about 150 million years ago. It seems that it could measure up to 35 meters and weigh around 10 to 15 tons in weight. He lived during the late Jurassic period. It was a herbivorous dinosaur that fed on the leaves and fruits of tall trees and shrubs, as well as ferns and horsetails that grew at ground level.
The brachiosaurus ( Brachiosaurus Brancai) , whose name means Reptile with Arms, lived in the late Jurassic period in what is now North America. This herbivore was adapted to feed on tall trees. It is estimated that he ate about 200-400 kilos of food a day. It had a long neck, a small head, and a relatively short tail. It was up to 28 meters tall and weighed approximately 50 tons. It was the only dinosaur that had its front legs longer than the back ones. It is a sauropod, like Diplodocus and Apatosaurus.
No one knows why the stegosaurus (which translates to “covered lizardâ€) had such distinctive plates that on average they were two feet tall and wide. On average, it was about 30 feet long and 13 feet high and weighed a maximum of two tons. Some believe that the pointed plates of this dinosaur could have been brightly colored and could move, and the tips on the tail could have been horizontal rather than vertical, helping to ward off predators. The stegosaurus lived on the plains of what is now North America about 150 million years ago. It was a herbivorous dinosaur from the late Jurassic period.
The Iguanodon ( Iguanodon Bernissartensis) , whose name means “iguana tooth, lived in the early Cretaceous about 125 million years ago. It was first discovered in 1822 by the English geologist Gideon Mantell and was the second dinosaur to receive a formal name (in 1825), the first being Megalosaurus (in 1824). It was a herbivorous dinosaur that weighed about 3.5 tons and reached about 10 meters in length. Along with Tyrannosaurus rex and Stegosaurus, the Iguanodon was one of the three dinosaurs that inspired the appearance of Godzilla.
The Archaeopteryx ( Archaeopterix Lithographica ) whose name means “ancient wingâ€, lived in the Jurassic period. It is a primitive carnivorous  bird that had terrifying-looking claws and sharp teeth. Regarding its diet, it probably included small reptiles, mammals, and insects. It measured approximately 60 centimeters and weighed 500 grams. Its physiological characteristics place it as a kind of evolutionary transition between dinosaurs and birds.
The Protoceratops , whose name means “first horned faceâ€, lived in the late Cretaceous period 75 and 71 million years ago in what is now Asia (especially in Mongolia) so ago. It fed on plants and was approximately two meters tall and weighed up to 177 kilos. Did it really have horns? No. This Campanian herbivore did not wear real horns, but bony buttons on the tip of the nose and cheeks.
The Allosaurus ( Allosaurus Fragilis ), whose name means “strange / different delicate reptileâ€, was a carnivorous dinosaur smaller than Tyrannosaurus rex but faster and with a jaw full of teeth. It had a large skull and walked on two legs. But, unlike its cousin Rex, its body and head were quite balanced by a long and heavy tail. Another of its characteristic features is the series of bumps in front of each eye, although its function is unknown. Allosaurus lived during the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. It was first described by Othniel Marsh in 1877 and it became one of the first known dinosaurs. Marsh also named and gave the first description of the Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus) in that same year. The Allosaurus was approximately 12 meters long and weighed up to two tons. It fed on small dinosaurs such as Camptosaurus and Stegosaurus, as well as lizards and mammals. It is possible that he hunted in packs. It is a very popular dinosaur, featured in books, documentaries and movies, including Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1912 book “The Lost World†and the BBC television series “Walking Among Dinosaurs†(1999).
The Gallimimus ( Gallimimus Bullatus ), whose name means “chicken reptileâ€, is the only known species of the genus Gallimimos . It lived during the late Cretaceous period approximately 70 million years ago in what is now Asia. It measured four meters and weighed just over four tons. It was omnivore and fed on small animals, insects, eggs, and plants. It was a fairly agile dinosaur that walked on two legs, which were quite thin. It is likely that it ran as much as the current ostrich (about 70 km / h).
The Ankylosaurus ( Ankylosaurus ), whose name means “stiff reptileâ€, lived at the end of the Cretaceous period approximately 66 million years ago. They were undoubtedly one of the last dinosaurs left before the great extinction event due to the impact of a meteorite . The Ankylosaurus was herbivorous and fed on low plants. Its teeth were very small compared to the size of its body , measuring up to 11 meters long and weighing about 4-6 tons. The most characteristic thing about this dinosaur is its body armor: thorns and bone plates embedded in the skin that represented a wonderful defense against predators. His tail is not negligible either, because it was capable of breaking the bones of another dinosaur with its onslaught.
The Spinosaurus ( Spinosaurus aegyptiacus ), whose name means “reptile thorny Egyptâ€, lived about 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period in what is now northern Africa. It was larger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex and probably one of the largest carnivores in history. It was up to 15 meters long and weighed between 7 and 20 tons. It featured a long, thin skull and distinctive spines that were 1.5 meters long. It is believed that this sail or crest absorbed and dispersed heat, thus regulating its body temperature. It is another of the best known dinosaurs, which has appeared in films such as “Jurassic Park 3â€.
https://paleontology.us/theories-about-extinction/ Paleontology_US Sun, 09 Aug 2020 20:23:40 +0000 Curiosities News https://paleontology.us/?p=1676 Below we offer you the different theories that have been shuffled over the years to try to explain the reason for the extinction of the dinosaurs, an unknown that has accompanied man for thousands of years. As you can see, these assumptions are very diverse. Here we show you some of the best known explanations. An […]
Below we offer you the different theories that have been shuffled over the years to try to explain the reason for the extinction of the dinosaurs, an unknown that has accompanied man for thousands of years. As you can see, these assumptions are very diverse. Here we show you some of the best known explanations.
This theory suggests that a mysterious disease will kill the entire set of dinosaurs. But this possibility lacks consistency because it is not possible that there is a virus, microbes or other infections that are capable of reaching a set of a class of animals such as dinosaurs. These infections are usually limited to a few closely related species.
Nor would this approach explain why none of the mammalian species was affected by these epidemics. Other reptiles, such as crocodiles, turtles, and lizards, did survive the pests.
This theory holds that the earth grew cold (for an unspecified reason) and that the dinosaurs were unable to adapt to the cold and became extinct. But with this theory it is still very difficult to explain that it affected all kinds of dinosaurs and, on the contrary, it did not affect other animals such as turtles, crocodiles and other sharks.
In addition, this theory is disarmed by showing that dinosaurs existed in polar regions that were accustomed to cold. Therefore, the latter, faced with the possibility of climate change, would have survived.
This theory is supported by the small size of the brains of dinosaurs, compared to their large body dimensions. In addition, they were very slow and heavy animals. According to this possibility, due to these characteristics, dinosaurs were unable to compete with mammals that were more agile and faster.
This theory lacks weight when attesting that there were dinosaurs that did have a large brain regarding their proportions (Ex: deinonicosaurs). In addition, there were others who had great agility and speed, such as the tetanuranidae. In addition, the mammals of that time had an equally very small brain.
According to this hypothesis, dinosaurs become extinct because their eggs have been devoured by small nocturnal mammals. The hypothesis is supported by the fact that in the investigations carried out over the years, fossilized dinosaur eggs have been found that seemed to have been opened and emptied.
This theory is unfounded since it has been scientifically proven that dinosaurs and mammals have coexisted for millions of years. Furthermore, it does not explain how mammals devoured only dinosaur eggs and only theirs.
That is, why didn’t they also devour the eggs of other mammals, such as oviparous reptiles or birds? This approach also does not explain how mammals could end up with marine dinosaurs that did not lay eggs but gave birth.
This hypothesis is based on the strong volcanic activity that occurred in the Cretaceous era. Volcanic gases destroyed the ozone layer and as a consequence ultraviolet rays poured into the atmosphere in strong amounts, causing the extinction of the dinosaurs.
This assumption does not explain why all the dinosaurs disappeared en masse, since the beings that lived in the water or those with a strong fur must have survived since they were prepared for those atmospheric conditions.
Perhaps the theory that is best known since it has a multitude of followers, although how the previous ones lack total certainty and leave aspects unresolved.
This theory explains that 65 million years ago a meteorite of approximately 10 km. in diameter, it impacted the Earth causing havoc: It
caused large fires (approximately 70% of the continents were on fire). The fire interrupted the photosynthesis of the plants which caused that the oxygen of the planet was reduced almost to the total.
A huge cloud made up of water vapor, rock debris, released gases, metallic elements and dust, spread throughout the stratosphere and blocked the sunlight. As the sun could not penetrate, the temperature dropped to 10 degrees below zero. Lakes freeze and thousands of plant species die. The cloud could be maintained for years, which causes the death of vegetation, herbivores and carnivores. In these adverse conditions, the best able to survive were small animals, scavengers such as lizards, crocodiles, etc.
The main objection to this theory is that nobody has found that crater that the impact of an object the kilometer-long dimensions of the meteorite should have caused. Although many voices have been raised to explain this absence, alleging that continental drift could have made it disappear.
Also read: Ancient Die-Off Greater Than The Dinosaur Extinction
https://paleontology.us/smaller-dinosaurs/ Paleontology_US Sat, 08 Aug 2020 22:57:36 +0000 Curiosities Dinosaurs https://paleontology.us/?p=1667 Dinosaurs are always evoked as beings of great dimensions, but a large number of species of this type of reptile were not so large. There are dinosaurs of many types, weights, heights and sizes and it should be noted that there were actually more small dinosaurs than huge ones. Small dinosaurs could be even smaller than dogs […]
Dinosaurs are always evoked as beings of great dimensions, but a large number of species of this type of reptile were not so large. There are dinosaurs of many types, weights, heights and sizes and it should be noted that there were actually more small dinosaurs than huge ones. Small dinosaurs could be even smaller than dogs or cats. Below you can find some of the smallest dinosaur species that populated the earth millions of years ago.
The Liaoxiornis, although it is impossible to know for sure, was probably the smallest size dinosaur that existed millions of years ago. The size of this reptile was only six centimeters, being more or less the size of a current bird.
The Epidendrosaur was also a really small animal. It was about six inches tall but had really long fingers that gave it great strength. Thanks to those marvelous fingers, this dinosaur was able to extract larvae from thousands of holes, even from trees, to get to eat every day.
The Epidexipteryx was also small, although larger than the previous two. This dinosaur measured exactly ten inches and had long feathers that made it look like a peacock. This type of dinosaur had a special quality that was really similar to that of these animals since it used its feathers to attract and court females of its species. Perhaps it could be an ancestor of turkeys, since their forms also resemble those of today’s birds.
Anchiornis was another of the smallest dinosaurs that populated the earth. Similar to a bird, it was actually a feathered reptile that lived in the area of ​​present-day Asia. Its name means almost bird and in many cases it is presented as the connecting link between birds and dinosaurs that were not similar to birds or did not fly.
This small-sized dinosaur lived during the Upper Jurassic. This type of dinosaur is used as a link between theropod dinosaurs and modern birds. It is really recognized as the oldest primitive bird and is divided into two species, acting as an intermediary between the feathered dinosaurs and the birds that we know today.
This type of dinosaur was one of the smallest that existed with between 35 and 70 centimeters. He had a somewhat fatter and harder rear, and he used it to protect himself and to be able to fight with other males in order to captivate the females or to be the leader of his pack. It was a herbivorous dinosaur that also used this tool to defend itself against carnivores. In addition, it walked on two legs only and fed on ferns or similar vegetables.
The Eoraptor was a small-sized dinosaur and it really is one of the oldest ever discovered. It had very light bones and very thin legs that ended in three toes. In general, it was light and stabilized with its tail, thus managing to reach its prey with its speed and catch them with its front legs, which did have five fingers. In addition, its sharp teeth helped it to be able to feed better on other reptiles and small mammals or insects.
The Compsognathus was one of the dinosaurs that, without being a bird, was one of the smallest in size. Even so, its size was similar to that of birds and it has also been tried to mate with current birds. It had three claws on each leg and a long tail that served as a counterweight. Some research also indicates that this species could have been covered with feathers that would serve as insulation.
This dinosaur was also small and had a very short snout and small wings, with primary feathers. The tail of this animal was short and the toes and feet were very thin, in addition to not having claws to attack their prey. They also did not show feathers or any type of wings on the lower legs.
Archaeceratops were a type of hornless dinosaurs that could be bipedal and quadruped and had really small beaks and throats. Also his body was really light and adapted to be able to walk quickly. This animal was herbivorous and it is very likely that it fed on ferns, cyclades or conifers through its sharp beak.
Also read: The Smallest Dinosaur Discovered On The Planet
https://paleontology.us/fossil-hints-at-fuzzy-dinosaurs/ Paleontology_US Wed, 17 Jun 2020 11:10:33 +0000 Curiosities https://paleontology.us/?p=1493 Fossil hints at fuzzy dinosaurs A discovery in China has prompted researchers to question the scaly image of dinosaurs. Previously, experts thought the first feathered dinosaurs appeared about 150 million years ago, but the find suggests feathers evolved much earlier. This has raised the question of whether many more of the creatures may have been […]
A discovery in China has prompted researchers to question the scaly image of dinosaurs.
Previously, experts thought the first feathered dinosaurs appeared about 150 million years ago, but the find suggests feathers evolved much earlier.
This has raised the question of whether many more of the creatures may have been covered with similar bristles, or “dino-fuzzâ€.
The team describe the fossil in the journal Nature. Hai-Lu You, a researcher from the Insitute of Geology in Beijing , was part of the team that discovered the fossil. He told BBC News he was “very excited†when he realized the significance of what his team had found.
He described the filaments seen on the body of the new dinosaur, which the team has named Tianyulong confuciusi , as “protofeathers†– the precursors of modern feathers.
“Their function was probably display, as well as to keep the body warm†he said. Dr You’s team noticed that the filaments on the base of their dinosaur’s tail were extremely long. These, they suggest, might have evolved for show, and may even have been coloured. “The world of dinosaurs would [have been] more colourful and active than we previously imagined,†he said.
Dinosaurs can be categorized into two large families – the Saurischia and the Ornithischia. The Saurischia family includes the theropods – thought to be the ancestors of modern birds. Fossils of these dinosaurs have revealed that some of them were feathered. But the newly-discovered dinosaur is a member of the Ornithischia group – all previously thought to have reptilian scales. Professor Lawrence Witmer, a paleontologist from Ohio University, says this “really muddies the waters†of what researchers know about the origin of feathers.
It suggests that their origin might go right back to the earliest ancestors of all dinosaurs – more than 200 million years ago. “The bad news is that something we thought was neatly wrapped up is now not so neat,†said Professor Witmer. “We now need to rethink what the coat of the ancestral dinosaurs actually was.†He added: “But the good news is that we can now look at existing evidence with new eyes – going back to old fossils and asking if there is evidence of any of these filaments.â€
The team, who named the dinosaur after the Tianyu Museum of Nature, where the fossil is housed, also dedicated part of its name to the philosopher Confucius to reflect how it has changed the modern view of dinosaurs. “Maybe all dinosaurs, even the predominantly scaled ones, had fuzzy parts,†added Professor Witmer. “And if they were covered in a fuzzy coat, what does that tell us about their physiology? Perhaps they were warm-blooded. “We now need to think completely differently about the evidence we already have.â€
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https://paleontology.us/we-thought-we-knew-the-biggest-dinosaur-ever-but-it-seems-someone-else-might-take-its-place/ Paleontology_US Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:51:02 +0000 Curiosities https://paleontology.us/?p=1476 It seems T. Rex has probably been sensationalized too much. While the iconic carnivore has been the poster dino for the entire Jurassic Park  franchise, there were creatures that made it look like a pet lizard. Titanosaurs trodden the earth from the Jurassic through the mid-late Cretaceous, leaving behind only fragments of their skeletons for scientists to try […]
It seems T. Rex has probably been sensationalized too much. While the iconic carnivore has been the poster dino for the entire Jurassic Park franchise, there were creatures that made it look like a pet lizard.
Titanosaurs trodden the earth from the Jurassic through the mid-late Cretaceous, leaving behind only fragments of their skeletons for scientists to try and piece together. These herbivorous species were so huge that even voracious predators like T. Rex would have to freeze literal tons of leftovers if freezers actually existed. Until recently, Patagotitan was thought to be the heavyweight , but researcher Greg Paul suggests there were more gargantuan things out there.
Paul, who published a study in Annals of Carnegie Museum , found that measurements of Argentinosaurus bones have an edge over those of Patagotitan , and there was possibly something that out-monstered both of them.
“A main conclusion of my analysis is that Patagotitan is definitely not the largest known titanosaur, that being the previously known, less complete titanosaur Argentinosaurus, the individual bones of which are distinctly larger in critical dimensions,†Paul, whose rendering of Argentinosaurus can be seen above and below, told SYFY WIRE.
While Patagotitan was previously thought to be the largest sauropod to have ever existed, Paul’s measurements resulted in an estimate of around 50-55 tons, while Argentinosaurus could have been an astonishing 65-75 tons. His mass estimates relied on volumetric models . These were based on restorations of the entire skeletal profile of the behemoth, which were then used to reconstruct it in three dimensions. Volumetric models are far more accurate than some other methods based on dimensions of individual limb bones. As a basis for comparison, models of extant animals that use the limb bone method are off by at least a factor of two—meaning, probably even more inaccurate in anything extinct.
But wait. Was there a size limit? Extreme life-forms have extreme energy needs, and these herbivores needed to munch quite a few trees to stay alive. They also have extreme limitations. The blue whale , which is now is the largest animal in existence at up to 82 feet long and 330,000 pounds, evolved during the ice age only a few million years ago, possibly because it feeds on almost unlimited plankton and that water alleviates at least some of the burden of its immense size. Scientists believe that physiological stress from diving and surfacing may have limited the blue whale’s body size.
“We know that sauropods approaching and perhaps exceeding 100 tons lived on land, in part because we have their trackways formed out of the water,†Paul explained. “The calculations show their bones were strong enough, and their muscles powerful enough, to have been able to walk normally.â€
Super-titanosaurs are thought to have trudged along like elephants on land. The highest speed they could reach was probably no faster than 15 miles an hour, and it is unlikely something of that size could ever actually run. Not that they had too many predators to worry about. Growing to incredible sizes might have actually been how some titanosaurs adapted to living in places where their ancestors had always been stalked by theropods similar to T. Rex or Allosaurus . because trying to take down such a beast was useless for a carnivore, dagger teeth and all, whose average height was around 20 feet. Could anything have held these titans back from growing any larger?
“It is possible that limitations in finding food are what limited the size of sauropods. Or problems pumping blood all the way up to their heads. Or structural issues regarding moving on land,†Paul said, but stressed that “It is not known what the maximum size limit of animals is on land or in the water, or why.â€
Even Argentinosaurus, which was proven to have been an overall larger species than Patagotitan , may have still not been the most massive sauropod and land animal to have ever roamed the Earth. Something may or may not have beat that. Maraapunisaurus , if it actually existed, is thought to have been at least 80-120 tons. This hypothetical dinosaur might have gotten to such a size because it had a shorter neck than Argentinosaurus, which relieved it of blood pressure issues often brought on by extreme height, and vertebrae that were built for a strength boost. The problem is that only one vertebra thought to belong to this mythic creature was ever found—and then lost.
“There are partial remains of other sauropods that may suggest animals larger than Argentinosaurus,†he said. “In any case, the possibility that we have happened to have already found the largest land animals of all time is essentially zero, bigger ones must have existed.â€
Just don’t tell that to any hardcore Jurassic Park fans.
Source: syfy.com
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