Episode 492: Dinosaur Brains and Early Dinosaur Evolution. How we are able to inform dinosaur mind measurement and form from their skulls; Proof from the mind of Thescelosaurus exhibits it could have burrowed; Plus an replace on Ornithoscelida
Information:
- Mind measurement diverse in dinosaurs supply
- Seems, the dinosaur Thescelosaurus had a robust sense of scent, a delicate vestibular system, however horrible listening to—all which can imply it was a burrower supply
- A brand new mountaineering path with 134 sauropod dinosaur footprints is now open to the general public in Colorado, in line with The Denver Gazette supply
- The Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park is opening in June in New Jersey supply
Listener Questions:
- What would an actual “fashionable tyrannosaur” seem like?
- Replace on the Ornithoscelida debate (the place theropods and ornithischians are grouped collectively). We additionally clarify Saurischia (sauropods + theropods) and Phytodinosauria/Ornithischiformes (sauropods + ornithischians).
Sponsors:
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The dinosaur of the day: Dracovenator
- Dracovenator, request from Morgan through patreon/discord
- Neotheropod that lived within the Early Jurassic in what’s now South Africa (Elliot Formation)
- Medium sized, estimated to be as much as 18 to 21 ft (5.5 to six.5 m) lengthy and weigh 550 lb (250 kg)
- Earlier than Dracovenator was described, scientists knew from footprints there have been theropods present in its biozone (space the place it was discovered)
- Potential that Dracovenator made the big theropod tracks discovered
- Seemed much like Dilophosaurus, walked on two legs, had an extended tail
- Completely different from Dilophosaurus primarily based on particulars within the jaws and tooth
- Cranium estimated to be about 50 cm or practically 20 in lengthy
- Paleoart exhibits two crests on high of its head (these bones haven’t been discovered, however cranium bones which were discovered are much like Dilophosaurus)
- Had lumps and bumps on the decrease jaw, like Dilophosaurus, however smaller
- Had lengthy, slender decrease jaws that lightly curved
- Had serrated tooth
- Had a slim snout that tapered towards the tip
- Had a kink in its higher jaws
- Small snout is much like Coelophysis rhodesiensis (a.okay.a. Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis), however had extra compressed, blade-shaped serrated tooth within the premaxilla (very entrance of the jaw)
- Kind species is Dracovenator regenti
- Holotype is a partial cranium
- Fossils discovered by James Kitching and Regent “Lucas” Huma
- Present in sandstone
- Described and named by Adam Yates in 2005
- Genus title means “dragon hunter”
- Genus title refers back to the dinosaur most likely preying on prosauropods and being discovered within the foothills of the Drakensberg Vary (means Dragon’s Mountain in Dutch)
- The species title is in honor of “the late Regent ‘Lucas’ Huma, Prof. Kitching’s long-term subject assistant and pal”
- A second specimen was initially regarded as Syntarsus rhodesiensis, and located in 1981. It was a effectively preserved snout
- Yates discovered the snout that was referred to Syntarsus is perhaps a juvenile specimen of Dracovenator
- Talked about Syntarsus in episode 456 (now Megapnosaurus—lengthy story)
- Megapnosaurus regarded quite a bit like Coelophysis (had an extended tail, walked on two legs, had brief arms, and an extended face)
- Jaws of the snout have been clamped shut (obtained so compressed, the scientists that studied it in 1999 mentioned it wasn’t value making an attempt to separate the jaws—additionally thought the specimen obtained so crushed all the small print within the jaw could have been misplaced anyway)
- Yates mentioned Dracovenator had a “mosaic of coelophysoid and superior theropod traits”
- In all probability lived on a floodplain
- Different dinosaurs that lived across the identical time and place embody plenty of sauropodomorphs reminiscent of Aardonyx, Antetonitrus, Arcusaurus, Gryponyx, Ignavusaurus, Massospondylus, Pulanesaura, and Sefapanosaurus, ornithischians reminiscent of Eocursor, Fabrosaurus, Lesothosaurus, and Pegomastax, the coelophysid Megapnosaurus
- Different animals that lived across the identical time and place embody crocodylomorphs and cynodonts
Enjoyable Reality:
In accordance with the Dinosaur Heresies, pterosaurs are dinosaurs.
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