WEEK 12 - The Dinosaur Flashcards
Why do dinosaurs capture so much public fascination?
- Many were big
- They look cool
- They’re dead
Could dinosaur remains explain dragon myths?
- Yes, early discoveries of dinosaur remains may have inspired dragon myths.
- Dragons are often depicted as large reptilian creatures, similar to dinosaurs.
- They also have added traits like wings and the ability to breathe fire.
Why are dragons a cross-cultural phenomenon?
- Dragon myths are found in many cultures around the world.
- This could be due to the widespread discovery of dinosaur remains across all continents.
What is the original Godzilla movie about?
- Released in 1954.
- A 400-foot fire-breathing dinosaur is awakened by atomic bomb testing off the coast of Japan.
- It attacks Tokyo.
What is the origin of the name “Godzilla”?
“Godzilla” is a corruption of the Japanese word “Gojira,” which combines “Kujira” (whale) and “Gorira” (gorilla).
What is the 1998 Godzilla movie about?
- A giant, irradiated lizard created by French atomic testing in the South Pacific.
- The creature attacks Manhattan.
- Features Matthew Broderick in a forgettable role.
What did Jurassic Park do for paleontology?
- Improved scientific accuracy.
- Made paleontologists “cool” to the public.
NOTE: Paleontologists = scientists who study the history of life on earth, through fossils
What are stem reptiles?
- Primitive reptiles from the Carboniferous Period.
- Evolved from amphibians.
- Small, lizard-like forms.
Example: Hylonomus (found in Joggins, Nova Scotia).
What groups evolved from stem reptiles by the Permian Period?
Mammal-like reptiles: Evolved into mammals.
Marine reptiles: Examples include ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.
All other reptiles:
- Squamates: Lizards and snakes.
- Archosaurs: Thecodonts, crocodiles, dinosaurs, and birds.
How did the development of posture contribute to dinosaur success?
Stem reptiles (lizards): Sprawling posture, limits mobility and breathing.
Thecodonts: Semi-upright posture, better mobility.
Dinosaurs: Full upright posture, legs beneath the body, maximum mobility.
How are dinosaurs classified based on hip structure?
Saurischians (“lizard-hipped”):
- Backward-facing ischium, forward-facing pubis.
- Both meat-eaters and plant-eaters.
Ornithischians (“bird-hipped”):
- Backward-facing ischium and pubis.
- All plant-eaters.
- Backward pubis may have allowed for a bigger stomach.
What are the oldest known dinosaurs?
Age: About 228 million years old (Mid-Triassic rocks, Argentina).
First dinosaurs:
- Theropods: Meat-eating saurischians.
- Sauropods: Plant-eating saurischians (appeared by Late Triassic).
- Ornithischians: Plant-eating dinosaurs (appeared by Early Jurassic).
What are the main types of Saurischians?
Theropods:
- All meat-eaters.
- Bipedal (walked on two legs).
Sauropods:
- All plant-eaters.
- Quadrupedal (walked on four legs).
What are Ornithischians?
- Includes duck-billed dinosaurs (e.g., hadrosaurs).
- All plant-eaters.
- Highly diverse in appearance and specialized lifestyles.
What are Stegosaurs? (Ornithischians)
- Plated dinosaurs
- Characterized by large plates on their backs and spikes on their tails.
- Plant-eaters.
What are Ceratopsians? (Ornithischians)
- Horned dinosaurs
- Examples: Triceratops.
- Plant-eaters with large frills and horns on their heads.
What are Ankylosaurs? (Ornithischians)
- Fused dinosaurs
- Armor-plated, with a clubbed tail.
- Plant-eaters.
What are Pachycephalosaurs? (Ornithischians)
- Bone-headed dinosaurs
- Known for thick, bony skulls.
- Likely used their heads for headbutting, plant-eaters.
What Do Dinosaur Nests Tell Us?
- Fossil nests found worldwide.
- Indicate that dinosaurs were attentive parents.
- Many dinosaurs built nests and cared for their young.
Oviraptor: Egg Stealer or Caring Mother?
- Initially thought to be raiding Protoceratops eggs.
- Later findings showed Oviraptor eggs with embryos inside.
- Suggests Oviraptor may have been a caring parent, not an egg thief.
How Have Dinosaurs Been Misrepresented?
- Slow, tail-dragging brutes: Dinosaurs were likely faster and more agile than previously thought.
- Scaly skin: Many dinosaurs had feathers or skin textures different from lizards.
- Dumb: Evidence suggests many dinosaurs were highly intelligent.
- Pterosaurs as flying dinosaurs: Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs, but closely related reptiles.
- Loch Ness Monster: The Loch Ness Monster is unlikely to be a dinosaur.
- Cold-blooded: Many dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded, not cold-blooded.
- Dull-coloured: Recent findings suggest dinosaurs may have had bright colors.
- Unsuccessful: Dinosaurs thrived for millions of years before their extinction.
Myth 1: Dinosaurs Were Slow, Tail-Dragging Brutes
Incorrect reconstruction: Dinosaurs (especially theropods) are often shown with their tails dragging behind them.
Correct reconstruction: The tail was a counterweight to the front mass, helping balance the body.
Tyrannosaurus: Its small front limbs offset the large head.
Speed: Footprint spacing shows that Tyrannosaurus could run up to 30 km/h.
Myth 2: Dinosaurs Had Scaly Skin Like Lizards
Misconception: Based on comparisons with modern lizards.
Reality: Dinosaur skin impressions show a pebbled texture, similar to bird skin, not scaly like lizards.
Evidence: Casts of dinosaur skin impressions and comparison with bird legs.
Myth 3: Dinosaurs Were Dumb
Misconception: Dinosaurs were unintelligent, based on brain size like Stegosaurus.
Reality: Some theropods, like Troodon, had high brain-to-body ratios, similar to birds, suggesting intelligence on par with a raccoon.
Speculation: If the mass extinction hadn’t occurred, theropods might have evolved humanoid intelligence.
