Dinosrawrs

[ghost_warlock]

When I was a kid I was obsessed with dinosaurs dinosrawrs. :smallbiggrin: I collected toys, read everything I could find about them, repeatedly went to the library to watch the same microfilm(?) animated movies about them over and over, I wanted so much to be a paleontologist when I grew up.

Then, I became a teenager my focus radically shifted towards members of a certain mammal species with dimorphic characters, specifically towards members of the species with characteristics different than my own...

Well, after having many exciting, fun, tragic, and satisfying encounters with these creatures I feel I've learned a lot and, though my curiosity is far from sated, I figure it may be time to be a bit less obsessive about them. :smallwink: I'm thinking it might be time to pay some attention, and give some love, to dinosrawrs again. I'm sure other people around here love them, too.

So, all that said, tell me about dinosaurs. :smallbiggrin: Tell me about your favorites and the ones you don't like all that much; tell me why you have these opinions. Post your favorite dinosaur pictures here (spoilered for screen-stretching of course, many dinosrawrs were BIG!).

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When I was younger I used to love triceratops the most, but I started shifting attention towards the carnivores as I got older. I think my favorite dinosaur, now, is deinonychus. When I started shifting focus away from dinosaurs years ago, I remember deinonychus being pictured as bipedal but with lizardy skin, but there was some talk of finding imprints of feathers with the fossilized bones. I guess, now, deinonychus has be reimagined to be covered with feathers. Is that really what the current majority of researchers think, or is my information wrong? Since I've been out of the loop for many years, wikipedia is my main resource. Is there a better website I could visit, any good recent books I should look into? :smallsmile:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Deinonychus_BW.jpg/761px-Deinonychus_BW.jpg
wikipedia's deinonychus picture

[Ninja Chocobo]

I think my favorite dinosaur, now, is deinonychus.

Deinonychus represent. We'll show those velociraptor fanboys.
However...

I guess, now, deinonychus has be reimagined to be covered with feathers.
No. That's not true. That's impossible!:smallfrown:

[Illiterate Scribe]

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8416/picture4ol1.png

i am a dinosaur

[Boo]

i am a dinosaur

Long ago, and far away in a different age? Did fossilized photos of your life ever illustrate what an easy prey you must have been?

...is somebody digging your bones?

[ghost_warlock]

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8416/picture4ol1.png

i am a dinosaur

I dub thee, Brontosaurus Rex! :smallbiggrin:
Apatosaurus? Apatosaurus!? WTF is an apatosaurus!? Did you just make that up? >=P

[Boo]

Oh, hey, I just noticed that there was a post besides Illiterate Scribes and my own. An original post for this thread. Funny, I didn't know such a thing existed until now.

In any case, do you think this feather theory could be attributed to a possible cousin, or sister species that's somewhat similar to it (same category)? Perhaps it's a later evolution of the creature, or a separate course of its evolutionary tract?

[Eldan]

I've actually had an entire two-hour lecture in systematics on the bird-dinosaur relationship and possible theories. Since there are some shared characteristics in anatomy between birds and small dromaeosaurids (to which deinonychus and the raptors belong), and since fossils of some were found with what appears to be very primitive feathers, them being related to birds is currently one of the best theories around. However, running around and claiming they all had feathers seems a little far-fetched to me, based on what I've heard about them. Of course, there's also Archaeopteryx...

To calm those of you who still think Deinonychus is awesome, if they had feathers, they were most likely used for a) looking impressive, b) helping with jumping at prey.

See also this picture, which shows feathers quite nicely:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sinosauropteryxfossil.jpg

[averagejoe]

I'm still a hardcore fan of that old standby, T-Rex. I get the appeal of the subtler, stealthier raptors & co. but sometimes you just need large amounts of awesome might and power packed into one body. None of those "clever girl" shenanigans, just sufficient application of brute force. (http://www.qwantz.com/archive/000854.html)

[Phase]

In any case, do you think this feather theory could be attributed to a possible cousin, or sister species that's somewhat similar to it (same category)? Perhaps it's a later evolution of the creature, or a separate course of its evolutionary tract?

It's accepted that almost all therapods had feathers during at least part of their life. Case in point, the big T:
http://www.paleospot.com/croquis/Tyrannosaurus-rex_feathered.jpg

[Boo]

It's accepted that almost all therapods had feathers during at least part of their life. Case in point, the big T:
http://www.paleospot.com/croquis/Tyrannosaurus-rex_feathered.jpg

Bah, like I'd believe research and theories accepted by scientists around the world!

[Eldan]

Okay, I've never seen that one. What's it based on? I know they based the theory of all the raptors having feathers on a feathered basal ancestor (Sinosauropteryx) but why T-Rex?

Also, based on Wikipedia, since I don't have any books or scripts with me:

"Most of the theropods known to have feathers are maniraptorans. Only a few non-maniraptoran theropods are known to have them as well."

[Phase]

It's mainly in theory, with no direct evidence. The above picture is a far greater exaggeration than I wanted, but I lost the right one. Down on a Tyrannosaurid chick would be more likely. [/Paleontologist in training]

[Eldan]

I see. Well, good to know, anyway. New theories are always interesting.
/ecologist/evolutionary biologist in training

[Ninja Chocobo]

To calm those of you who still think Deinonychus is awesome, if they had feathers, they were most likely used for a) looking impressive, b) helping with jumping at prey.

It's accepted that almost all therapods had feathers during at least part of their life. Case in point, the big T:
Ah, that's better. I revoke my earlier protestation. I just didn't want the awesome that is (was?) Deinonychus running around looking like Archaeopteryx's granddad. Or grandson I don't know.

[Phase]

Ah, that's better. I revoke my earlier protestation. I just didn't want the awesome that is (was?) Deinonychus running around looking like Archaeopteryx's granddad. Or grandson I don't know.

It was probably relatively dark colors, anyway. Finding a mate should never exclude you from catching your live, screaming prey.

[Boo]

It was probably relatively dark colors, anyway. Finding a mate should never exclude you from catching your live, screaming prey.

Seeing as how gargantuan creatures like the T-Rex could sneak up on practically anyone (based on movies/games/books), I'd say they could use an orange jumpsuit.

[Eldan]

Actually, if sexual selection in birds today is any indication, feathers can very well subject the wearer to massive natural selection. Bright colours, feathers hindering flight and such are quite common in some species.

[three08]

can i get a whut whut for ankylosaurus? a giant spiked tank with a morningstar taped to its butt? yesplz.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Ankylosaurus_dinosaur.png/800px-Ankylosaurus_dinosaur.png
i was also partial to the styracosaurus:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Styracosaurus_dinosaur.png/746px-Styracosaurus_dinosaur.png
because i wanted to be different than all the theropod and triceratops fanboys. because, y'know, everyone cares about that. >.>

also it has been my understanding that the velociraptor was a fictional species concocted by mr crichton for the film, based on deinonychus and utahraptor and related species.

and hey there must be some serious birdlike traits going on or they'd never of named them 'raptors', a term originally reserved for birds of prey, in the first place.

[Fredthefighter]

Velociraptor and Triceratops were my favourites. Velociraptor had that feral cunning and the Triceratops was pretty much the dinosrawrs version of the tank.
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/attachment.php?attachmentid=93749
and
http://www.marshalls-art.com/images/ipaleo/paleopg15/triceratops.jpg

[mangosta71]

Reading the OP, I could almost have written it myself. I remember telling my parents I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was 5. Even with all the other kids saying the typical kid things like actor, fireman, etc, I wanted to be a scientist. Then I read Jurassic Park, and my focus shifted toward genetics. And that's what I do now.

But yeah, my favorite is also the deinonychus. I kinda liked things like the trike when I was little, but I always preferred carnivores, T-Rex being my favorite before I discovered the man-sized pack-hunting killers. Velociraptors are cool and all, but the deinonychus started it all.

Also, I'm gonna have to go with 308. The ankylosaurus is more of a tank than a triceratops could ever hope to be.

[Fredthefighter]

I just liked the triceratops.
I will now prove my love of dinosaurs.
1) I have a small plush toy of a baby triceratops, its awesome.
2) I have a poster with every group of dinosuars, how big they were compared to man and when they came into existence. From Prosaurapods to Ceratopids (II)

[ghost_warlock]

i was also partial to the styracosaurus:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Styracosaurus_dinosaur.png/746px-Styracosaurus_dinosaur.png
because i wanted to be different than all the theropod and triceratops fanboys. because, y'know, everyone cares about that. >.>
Wooo! Yeah, styracosaurus was in my Top-10, too. Gotta love that frill! :smallbiggrin:


also it has been my understanding that the velociraptor was a fictional species concocted by mr crichton for the film, based on deinonychus and utahraptor and related species.

and hey there must be some serious birdlike traits going on or they'd never of named them 'raptors', a term originally reserved for birds of prey, in the first place.
:smallconfused: Nah, they really existed. Or, at least, the wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velociraptor) is incredibly detailed for a completely fictitious species. :smallwink:

[Cobra_Ikari]

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s38/Cobra_Ikari/awesome.jpg

That is all.

[Fredthefighter]

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s38/Cobra_Ikari/awesome.jpg

That is all.

That was awesome. I remember a tabletop game that came out in England where dinosaurs (But Humanoid) fought human space soldiers. Each character had a little projectile launcher to take down the enemy, would've bought it too if I had thought it was worth it. Didn't have anyone to play it with.

[Mauve Shirt]

Not a dinosaur, but I've always liked terror birds. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorusrhacidae)

[Destro_Yersul]

I've always liked Stegosaurus and Parasauralophus. Not sure why, they're just cool. I think I've got a few old puzzles with dinosaurs on them, I used to have a T-shirt with various dinosaur skeletons on it, and I once went to the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. That was a lot of fun.

[Fredthefighter]

Do Dragons count as dinosaurs?
If so, I have a T-shirt with a Dragon coming out of a portal of some sort.

[three08]

i remember pictures of those, although that's the first time i've heard the name. they are pretty nifty. one part of that page confuses me, though:



Subfamily Brontornithinae — gigantic species, standing over 2 metres (6.6 ft) high. Placement in Phorusrhacidae and/or monophyly disputed.
Subfamily Phorusrhacinae — gigantic species 3 metres (9.8 ft) high, but somewhat smaller and decidedly more nimble than the Brontornithinae


(emphasis added)

....?


6.6 < 9.8

[Destro_Yersul]

Best guess? They mean more slightly built. The species could be bigger, but still more agile. Just a guess though.

[WalkingTarget]

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s38/Cobra_Ikari/awesome.jpg

That is all.

Man, I hadn't thought of Dino-Riders in ages. That takes me back.
Oh god, that was over 20 years ago. Damn I'm getting old.

Was, am, and probably always will be a Triceratops man. Dunno why exactly, maybe something just clicked when I saw the assembled skeleton (http://www.fossilguy.com/articles/montana_tric/tric_fieldmuseum.jpg) at the Field Museum in Chicago when I was little even though there were other skeletons too. I had (and I suppose my parents still have) a large collection of Dinosaur toys, puzzles, and books (some aimed waaaay above my age group at the time).

[Sneak]

All I will say is that I hate velociraptors. I absolutely loathe them.

Oh, what's that? That's right, velociraptor! I EVOLVED, AND YOU DIDN'T!

PWND!

[three08]

did anyone else have that book, dinotopia, when they were little? i totally did. i was crazy about it.

[Lyesmith]

I had that book! It was pretty damn great, yes.

[Fredthefighter]

I watched quite a few episodes of Dinotopia on Sky One, but I've never read the book.

[OverdrivePrime]

Even as a tiny version of my current self I was always impressed by size and power (yes, yes, let's all make those ever-so creative jokes). As such, my favorite of the dinos were the Sauropods, Diplodocus in particular.
http://www.runofplay.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/diplodocus.jpg

After ol' Diplodocus, I loved the image of Pachycephalosaurus hombres smashing their skulls into any fool who got in their way. "What's that? You don't like the cut of my jib? Headbutt to you, sucka!"

Stegoceras looks like a particularly chill dude:
http://www.cmstudio.com/image/Stegoceras026.jpg
Sadly, recent research suggests that they didn't just waltz around smacking their skulls into everything in sight, but I still dig 'em all the same.

And I must disagree with Ghost Warlock. Study of the females of the Homo Sapiens line is an constantly engrossing and entertaining endeavor. Dinosaurs may be pretty awesome, but they lack the essential mammalness.

[mangosta71]

also it has been my understanding that the velociraptor was a fictional species concocted by mr crichton for the film, based on deinonychus and utahraptor and related species.

The velociraptor was a late Cretaceous species, descended from deinonychus (which lived in the early Cretaceous). They stood about 5 feet tall, and thus were significantly smaller than the raptors in the film versions of Jurassic Park, which will hereafter be referred to as "the abomination which in no way resembled the written masterpiece". The utahraptor is much closer in size to the creatures depicted in the abomination which in no way resembles the written masterpiece. The utahraptor was actually discovered while the abomination which in no way resembles the written masterpiece was in final editing, which was a lucky break for Mr. Spielberg who felt that the small velociraptor wasn't scary enough for the theater and had substituted something much larger.

[sktarq]

Geez Dinos.

I went to a boarding school because it had a museum of paleontology on campus.
Spent my summers digging up dinoasaur bones all over the American west (Mostly Montanta and Utah). Spents my weekends digging up mammels in Mojave desert and my afternoons cleaning matrix off bones or sorting sand concentrate (best to get it off anthills actually) for tiny fossils (specifically for population of multituburculates just prior to the KT boundry in the Hellsgatecreek formation....Took college level classes in highschool for this stuff. Ended up focusing on American Oligocene Carivores.

I have no favorites

[eidreff]

@^ My jaw drops in aw at the coolness!


However after recovering my jaw from the floor. My favourite is the Leoplurodon, or more specific the Magic Leoplurodon. :smallwink:

[hamishspence]

Velociraptor- five ft?- Might be stretching it a bit- it was only six ft long and thirty-odd pounds in weight. 3 ft tall would be closer, with the larger Deinonychus being 5 ft tall at most (12 ft long)

Feathers- evidence of quill knobs on a Velociraptor skeleton. Tyrannosaurid Dilong with similar quill knobs. However, T. rex skin impressions suggest the adult would have been mostly featherless (maybe a very few on head)

was interested from fairly young. When I got sent a book from the Natural History Museum, after mailing them to point out a pictorial error in a children's library book on dinosaurs, I was rather pleased. I was about 7 at the time.

[WalkingTarget]

did anyone else have that book, dinotopia, when they were little? i totally did. i was crazy about it.

Had it and the first sequel. Spent hours tracking down every instance I could find of the footprint writing and then translating them (signs in the background, etc.). I kept these annotations handy when rereading them.

I also had a mug with the illustration of children running along a beach flying kites with a Diplodocus (or some other sauropod) running through the surf next to them. I should see if I can find that.

[RabbitHoleLost]

Rawwwwr!
Dinosrawrs <3
I'm so glad you made this thread, GW.

Anyways, as I said in my interview in Get to Know A Playgrounder, I'm incredibly partial to Maiasaura (http://www.dinosaurjungle.com/dinosaur_species_maiasaura.php),
but I also rather like Ceratosaurus (http://www.dinosaurjungle.com/dinosaur_species_ceratosaurus.php), mostly because it is both bad ass and ridiculous looking at the same time.

[Cobra_Ikari]

Stygimoloch and Dracorex have the best names, IMO. I'm also intrigued by Deinocheirus.

EDIT: Oh, and Therizinosaurus, too.

[Durp]

Therizinosaurus for teh win. For all teh winz.
^: Geh! I didn't even see that edit when I said that! :smalleek:

[Raistlin1040]

I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was little.

I'd say my favorites is the Allosaurus.

[Lord Fullbladder, Master of Goblins]

Ah, dinosaurs. I don't know how young I was when I decided I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up.

Yeah, my favorites are, mainstream as usual, the T. Rex and Deinonychus. Though, or the ceratopsians, after getting past the NYAH NYAH STAB STAB! appeal the Triceratops had for me as a child, I've always been rather fond of Protoceratops (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoceratops). Dunno why.

[ghost_warlock]

Rawwwwr!
Dinosrawrs <3
I'm so glad you made this thread, GW.

Anyways, as I said in my interview in Get to Know A Playgrounder, I'm incredibly partial to Maiasaura (http://www.dinosaurjungle.com/dinosaur_species_maiasaura.php),
but I also rather like Ceratosaurus (http://www.dinosaurjungle.com/dinosaur_species_ceratosaurus.php), mostly because it is both bad ass and ridiculous looking at the same time.
I'm glad you're lovins the thread, too. I'm quite pleased with it, myself. :smallbiggrin:

Oh, and ceratosaurus is another member of my illustrious Top-10. :smallsmile: If there was ever a scandalous affair between T-Rex and Tri-tops, I imagine ceratosaurus is the forbidden, ill-conceived spawn of the union. :smallwink::smalltongue:

Edit: Okay, who else thinks this thread would be greatly improved by a pic of T-Rex and Tri-tops making out? :smallbiggrin: *cough* :smalleek: Okay, me neither, I guess... That's a horrible idea; crazy-talk...

[RabbitHoleLost]

To the ship thread!

[Coidzor]

My biggest regret is how I have no idea how to go about a dinosaur costume. And how depressingly rare dino costumes are....

[KnightDisciple]

Hm. Well, I have to say that the ankylosaurus (sp? I'm lazy :smalltongue:) and Utahraptor are up there.
That said, I thought the Utahraptor was, what, 10-15ft tall or something? IE, a big bad mofo raptor. Is it smaller than I thought? :smallconfused:

[Eldan]

Right. Favorites.
As a child: Pachycephalosaurus and Ankylosaurus, for cool weaponry. Also Deinonychus.

As a university student: Microraptor. Gotta love a thing with four wings.

[Player_Zero]

6.6 < 9.8

But can you prove it?

[hamishspence]

closest thing is the skeleton, posture, balance- in a "resting" upright posture, Utahraptor stands about 7 ft tall (and 23 ft long- its still pretty big). But if it can "rear back" the medium-length body and long head, plus straightened neck, could extend its height somewhat.

the Jurassic Park Raptors are about midway between Utahraptor and Deinonychus in size- and very close to Achillobaator in size. Yes, the movie exaggerates their intelligence, dexterity and speed considerably, but it was a good place to start.

[three08]

But can you prove it?

can i get a hell to tha' no? i'll leave that to you, good sir. let me know when you're finished - i'll be in the other room playing saint's row 2. :smallbiggrin:

meantime, when i was - musta been about 4 - my mother made me a full-body jumpsuit dinosaur costume for halloween. it was roughly modeled after stegosaurus, although with a few modifications for the sake of practicality. the plates would have been difficult to do per their actual shape, and also she didn't want her 4-year-old son going trick-or-treating on all fours. :smalltongue: by all reports it was unbearably adorable.

as far as making one yourself, i'd assume just keep scouring the pattern sections at your local fabric shop. you should find something eventually. course, that requires proficiency with a sewing machine and so on, but if you wanted to make one, that's probably your best bet. alternatively, google should eventually yield something useful.

[averagejoe]

But can you prove it?

It's a pretty easy consequence of Deckard's "No Doy" theorem. :smalltongue:

[Fredthefighter]

Well, I was always a fan of the originals, and by that I mean:
T-Rex (He was just cool)
Triceratops
Stegasaurus
Velociraptor
Diplodocus
Brachiosaurus
Styracosaurus
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Styracosaurus_dinosaur.png

[Illiterate Scribe]

But can you prove it?

Well, I'm a dinosaur not a maths person, but ...

6.6 < 9.8

(subtract 6.6 from each side)

0 < 3.2

(divide both sides by 3.2)

0 < 1

Add x to both sides, where x = 0

x < x + 1

Adding a positive real number to another number by definition makes it bigger. Therefore

x < x + 1, as above.x


http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/9516/rawrkc3.png

[averagejoe]

Well, I'm a dinosaur not a maths person, but ...

6.6 < 9.8

(subtract 6.6 from each side)

0 < 3.2

(divide both sides by 3.2)

0 < 1

Add x to both sides, where x = 0

x < x + 1

Adding a positive real number to another number by definition makes it bigger. Therefore

x < x + 1, as above.x

It depends on your premises, really. Heck, in some formulations you first have to prove that 0 < 1 and then go from there. Point is you need to be given something to work off of. I mean, without premises I can just define 6.6 < 9.8 and be done with it.

[Illiterate Scribe]

It depends on your premises, really. Heck, in some formulations you first have to prove that 0 < 1 and then go from there. Point is you need to be given something to work off of. I mean, without premises I can just define 6.6 < 9.8 and be done with it.

Yeah, but x < x + 1 was an axiom, or at least according to the Simon Singh book I'm looking at right now ... I mean, that's its definition.

[Bor the Barbarian Monk]

I read an absolutely spectacular book years ago, Hunting Dinosaurs, by Louie Psihoyos and John Knoebber. If you can find it, I highly recommend it. :smallsmile: Witty white text is white.

[averagejoe]

Yeah, but x < x + 1 was an axiom, or at least according to the Simon Singh book I'm looking at right now ... I mean, that's its definition.

It can be taken axiomatically, but, again, it depends on your formulation. Which really frustrates the students because, when they have to prove it, they're like, "It seems like it's true by definition." It certainly makes some sort of sense to take x < x+1 as an axiom, but Player Zero didn't.

[Cobra_Ikari]

Unbeknownst to most scientists, 'twas math that killed the dinosrawrs.

[blackfox]

I'm pretty sure that when I was 5 or so that I wanted to be a dinosrawr when I grew up. My parents had an interesting time for a few months when I was stomping around the house at 5:30 in the morning 'eating' all the inferior, plant-eating dinosrawrs.

[Cobra_Ikari]

I'm pretty sure that when I was 5 or so that I wanted to be a dinosrawr when I grew up. My parents had an interesting time for a few months when I was stomping around the house at 5:30 in the morning 'eating' all the inferior, plant-eating dinosrawrs.

*giggles* <3

I used to dream of being a paleontologist when I was a kid. Then, for a while, I wanted to be a hybrid of Robert Muldoon and Alan Grant from Jurassic park. >.>

[Llama231]

I like them a lot too since I was little.
It was always funny seeing people freak out when a little 4year-old called their "long-necks" apatosaurus, ultrasaurus, elasmasaurus, or siesmosaurus. (Please pardon my spelling, it can be very bad sometimes, I am better at pronunciation.)

[Thufir]

I'm pretty sure that when I was 5 or so that I wanted to be a dinosrawr when I grew up. My parents had an interesting time for a few months when I was stomping around the house at 5:30 in the morning 'eating' all the inferior, plant-eating dinosrawrs.


Stompy stompy. I'm a dinosrawr!

Well, actually, she said 'dragon', and intended to say 'dinosaur'. But it would've been 'dinosrawr' if she was a poster here and hadn't gotten confused.

[Cobra_Ikari]

Elasmosaurus...I thought that was a plesiosaur?

My mom used to love me rattling off names. I still have a book I was given on my 5th birthday about dinosaurs. I have a similar one for animals from my 4th, but it's half-fallen apart from me reading it to my baby sister, and some of the pages are stuck together from her spilling formula on it...

*reminisce-mode activated*

[blackfox]

*giggles* <3

I used to dream of being a paleontologist when I was a kid. Then, for a while, I wanted to be a hybrid of Robert Muldoon and Alan Grant from Jurassic park. >.>I don't think I ever wanted to be a paleontologist... mostly because it involved digging up bones in the desert in the Heat, which was Evil.

It was always funny seeing people freak out when a little 4year-old called their "long-necks" apatosaurus, ultrasaurus, elasmasaurus, or siesmosaurus.Haha, I did that too... I had a book of 101 Dinosaurs that I memorized pretty much as soon as I learned to read.

Well, actually, she said 'dragon', and intended to say 'dinosaur'. But it would've been 'dinosrawr' if she was a poster here and hadn't gotten confused.Aww... How old is this kid? :smallbiggrin:

Elasmosaurus...I thought that was a plesiosaur?I think it did live in water but it also had a long neck. And carnivore teeth, IIRC.

[Cobra_Ikari]

I don't think I ever wanted to be a paleontologist... mostly because it involved digging up bones in the desert in the Heat, which was Evil.

I was young. I didn't know what "heat" was yet. Besides, they've found fossils in Antarctica!


Haha, I did that too... I had a book of 101 Dinosaurs that I memorized pretty much as soon as I learned to read.

Huzzah! Dinosrawr love at young age is something I hope any kids I have pick up. >.>


I think it did live in water but it also had a long neck. And carnivore teeth, IIRC.

Ah. Generally, people use "long-necks" to refer to, like, the ones from The Land Before time. Why are they still making those, anyway? They're on, like, #15 already! >.<

[Thufir]

Aww... How old is this kid? :smallbiggrin:

Kid? :smallconfused: She's 20.


Huzzah! Dinosrawr love at young age is something I hope any kids I have pick up. >.>

My brother used to get my mum to read books about dinosaurs to him instead of stories. At the age of 3.

[Szilard]

I remember when I was really young, probably around three and before I could speak English, my favorite dinosaur was the stegosaur. Then I saw the Jurassic Park movies and I started liking the carnivores more. I still have a dinosaur book my grandparents gave me for my seventh birthday on my bookshelf.

[blackfox]

Dinosrawr love at young age is something I hope any kids I have pick up. >.>Me too... although any kid of mine is gonna be interesting (http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5972/dinogk0.gif) anyways.

Kid? :smallconfused: She's 20.Hm... :smallconfused: I dunno why I thought she'd be little. But hilarious either way.

[Cobra_Ikari]

Kid? :smallconfused: She's 20.

Meh. Still a kid enough to go stompy stompy. :smallamused:




My brother used to get my mum to read books about dinosaurs to him instead of stories. At the age of 3.

I was reading the dinosaur books myself at that age. Mmm, tasty knowledges.

I was happier at that age. I didn't care that I couldn't pronounce half the names correctly, because I could spell them. Now I have to relearn correct pronunciations if I wanna be a dino-geek in person.

[Thufir]

Meh. Still a kid enough to go stompy stompy. :smallamused:

Acting like a child is fun! :smallbiggrin:

But calling her a kid seems weird to me. More so when you do it, since you're younger than she is...

[Cobra_Ikari]

Acting like a child is fun! :smallbiggrin:

But calling her a kid seems weird to me. More so when you do it, since you're younger than she is...

Aww, come on, what's a month between friends, eh? :smallamused:

We should totally have a dino LARP at a meetup sometime. *stomps around, rawring* =P

[blackfox]

We should totally have a dino LARP at a meetup sometime. *stomps around, rawring* =PDibs on the T-Rex.

[Cobra_Ikari]

Then I call dibs on Spinosaurus. =P

*pushes around puny T-Rex*

[Recaiden]

I've always liked pterosaurs, but I loved dinosaurawrs as a kid too.

[blackfox]

Oh no you DIDn't. :smallfurious: GRAWR!
*attacks, nom's on*

[Cobra_Ikari]

Oh no you DIDn't. :smallfurious: GRAWR!
*attacks, nom's on*

=O

Halp! I'm being nommed! D=

*is looking at the largest dinosaurs*

[Agamid]

We had a HUGE (well you know, for a little kid) bucket of dinosaur figurines when i was growing up... we still have it somewhere but have so many still-to-be-unpacked boxes under the house that i wouldn't know where to start looking for them...

my favourite was the Elasmosaurus

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/Dwaggie67/Dinosaurs/OMB%20Pics/elasmosaurus.jpg


But i'm far more fond of the Sarcosuchus now

http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/supercroc/crocpic6.JPG

[Cobra_Ikari]

Your croc from hell has reminded me of how terrified I was of mososaurs and some pliosaurs when I was younger.

[Eldan]

I used to bury dinosaur models in our garden sandbox in kindergarten...
Well, now I'm at university, and they don't have a palaeontology department. Which I could live with, if the neighbouring university, just across the street didn't have one and allowed their students to go to freaking east africa to dig out human bones in the summer holidays.

[Wardog]

I was a massive (obsessivly massive) fan of dinosaurs when younger.

My favourites were the sauropods (especially Diplodocus), T. rex and the big carnivores (possibly displaced in my affections by Deinonychus when I learned about it). I was also quite keen on Ankylosaurus (as someone else said earlier: it's basically a tank, with a morning star on its tail. How can it not be cool?).

I was a bit disappointed/disturbed when I first heard that Deinonychus and co (and possibly even T. rex) had feathers, although I think I've come to accept the idea now, and the evolution of the feathered dinosaurs is actually very interesting when you read about it.

[zeratul]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Deinonychus_BW.jpg/761px-Deinonychus_BW.jpg
wikipedia's deinonychus picture

Dude! Am I the only one who thinks that looks like insanely badass? Im ean the original theory about how deinonychuses would have looked was cool, but this is just insane and awesome.

[hamishspence]

It does make "looks more like a six foot turkey" remark from Jurassic Park 1 unintentionally funny. (given the real animal with that name was six foot- six foot long)

that said, while evidence is strong for dromaeosaurs, for tyrannosaurs, the evidence is, if they had them (some, the aforementioned Dilong, certainly did), they would have been severely reduced in the larger members of the group, since scaly skin impressions were found.

[Dr. Bath]

This (http://www.dawnoftimecomics.com/) is an awesome comic, but those with a low resistance to nerdrage/Paleontolorage (I'm looking at you... either Festy or Phase! I can't remember which) should probably avoid it.

Land-based Pterosaurs, awesome Y/N? (http://pterosaurs.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/azhdarchid-paleobiology-part-i/)Pssst! The answer is Y!

[Canadian]

I think of dinosaurs every time I gas up my car.

[orchitect]

I've been into dinosaurs since good old '93 when my mom and dad took me to the Imax to see Jurassic Park.

My favourite proper dinosaur of all time might just be carnotaurus, its just cool.

I really like other prehistoric animals a bit more though, like Dunkleosteous, the armoured fish.

[Serpentine]

I'm still a hardcore fan of that old standby, T-Rex. I get the appeal of the subtler, stealthier raptors & co. but sometimes you just need large amounts of awesome might and power packed into one body. None of those "clever girl" shenanigans, just sufficient application of brute force. (http://www.qwantz.com/archive/000854.html)T-Rex? Pfft, weaksauce. Megalosaurus Rex is where it's at, biatches! I thought I'd read somewhere that they were bigger than Tyranosaurs. Turns out they're a few metres smaller. Carcharodontosaurus, Giganotosaurus, Mapusaurus, Saurophaganax, and Spinosaurus (which, btw, is longer but slenderer), on the other hand...
Carnotaurus (http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/nature-online/dino-directory/detail.dsml?disp=gall&identifier=carnoto&sort=Genus&bodytype=4&dataHeaderText_EX=%0d%0a%3cimg+align%3d%22absbotto m%22+src%3d%22images%2fbody%2ftyraICON%2egif%22+wi dth%3d%2248%22+height%3d%2221%22+border%3d%220%22+ title%3d%22Carnosaur%22%3e%2dshaped+dinosaurs%0d%0 a&beginIndex=11&listPageURL=body%2edsml%3fdisp%3dgall%26sort%3dGen us%26bodytype%3d4) is both goofy- and hardcore-looking... That site I just linked to is pretty neato. Pay special attention to the scale diagrams, while you're there... :smalleek: Man, there's a lot of these "tyrannids"... :smalleek:
Fun piccy:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Largesttheropods.svg/800px-Largesttheropods.svg.pngSucks to be that dude :smalleek:

It's accepted that almost all therapods had feathers during at least part of their life. Case in point, the big T:
http://www.paleospot.com/croquis/Tyrannosaurus-rex_feathered.jpgWhile it looks vaguely goofy, somehow it also makes it that much scarier.
...
Chicken Park's not lookin' so stoopid now, is it :smallamused:


2) I have a poster with every group of dinosuars, how big they were compared to man and when they came into existence. From Prosaurapods to Ceratopids (II)Awesome. Want.


Do Dragons count as dinosaurs?
If so, I have a T-shirt with a Dragon coming out of a portal of some sort.Nah, but I do have... not so much a theory, but... a terminological quandry? What's the difference, when it gets right down to it, between this "big, flappy, flying, long-headed reptile":
http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Nature/Images/pterosaur_big_old.gif
and this "big, flappy, flying, long-headed reptile":
http://fc79.deviantart.com/fs38/f/2008/342/b/0/Dragon_In_Flight_by_SageGoat.jpg
Aside from superficial physical appearance and supernatural or incredible attributes explainable by exaggeration and misinformation?

All I will say is that I hate velociraptors. I absolutely loathe them.

Oh, what's that? That's right, velociraptor! I EVOLVED, AND YOU DIDN'T!

PWND!Actually, last I heard, the most prevalent theory held that birds may have evolved from raptors. Such as, yes, velociraptors :smallamused:

I have (or had - I don't know where she's gone :smallfrown:) a stuffed pink triceratops. I called her Tracy the Pink Triceratops.
<.<
Ah, I just liked that whole bunch. I like seeing all the different frill and horn patterns.

There's a place, not too far from here (like, no more than a few hours drive, say), where they've found a ridiculously large number of prehistoric remains (well, technically, in Australia "prehistoric" is "before a few hundred years ago), but whatever. I'm told they let members of the public come along and help dig things up. A friend of mine suggested that as something to get a bunch of us doing for a week or something... Would be fun.

My nephew was into dinosaurs for a while. He still likes them, but he's pretty much moved on now. Got him a big dino atlas for Christmas a year or two back...

[cheezewizz2000]

Wow... A thread full of people EXACTLY like me. *sniff* I'm so happy...

I've wanted to be a palaeontologist since forever, and I'm now studying Geology in the UK and looking to become a micropalaeontologist (looking at microscopic fossils) which is awesome!

But yeah, I was always a fan of Triceratops, just because they always came across to me as kinda dopey and slow. Classic thick tough guy. I've gotta say though, Anklyosaurus has the same sort of charm.

[Milanius]

Dino Appreciation Thread, how wonderful! My favorites:

Air Cavalry
http://www.newanimal.org/pterosaur.jpg

Armored Cavalry
http://www.linkandpinhobbies.com/Graphics/di_triceratops.jpg

:smallcool:

[Fredthefighter]

I have (or had - I don't know where she's gone :smallfrown:) a stuffed pink triceratops. I called her Tracy the Pink Triceratops.
<.<
Ah, I just liked that whole bunch. I like seeing all the different frill and horn patterns.

There's a place, not too far from here (like, no more than a few hours drive, say), where they've found a ridiculously large number of prehistoric remains (well, technically, in Australia "prehistoric" is "before a few hundred years ago), but whatever. I'm told they let members of the public come along and help dig things up. A friend of mine suggested that as something to get a bunch of us doing for a week or something... Would be fun.

My nephew was into dinosaurs for a while. He still likes them, but he's pretty much moved on now. Got him a big dino atlas for Christmas a year or two back...

I have a blue stuffed Triceratops, I call him Speedy.

[ghost_warlock]

This (http://www.dawnoftimecomics.com/) is an awesome comic, but those with a low resistance to nerdrage/Paleontolorage (I'm looking at you... either Festy or Phase! I can't remember which) should probably avoid it.

Historical inaccuracy aside, I'm lovin' this comic. Especially the sound effects... :smallbiggrin:


Fun piccy:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Largesttheropods.svg/800px-Largesttheropods.svg.pngSucks to be that dude :smalleek:
While it looks vaguely goofy, somehow it also makes it that much scarier

When I see that, all I can think of is that scene from the beginning of Fallout 2 where the vault opens and the inhabitants wave before being wasted with machine gun fire. So, yeah, it really sucks to be that dude, either way. :smalltongue:

[Fredthefighter]

Historical inaccuracy aside, I'm lovin' this comic. Especially the sound effects... :smallbiggrin:



When I see that, all I can think of is that scene from the beginning of Fallout 2 where the vault opens and the inhabitants wave before being wasted with machine gun fire. So, yeah, it really sucks to be that dude, either way. :smalltongue:

Correct, correct and correct.

[hamishspence]

I liked the comic. And the size comparison pic- makes me think if you put a bunch of very predatory animals that close to each other, there would be lot of snapping in each other's direction moments later.

[ghost_warlock]

I liked the comic. And the size comparison pic- makes me think if you put a bunch of very predatory animals that close to each other, there would be lot of snapping in each other's direction moments later.

Nah, you see, they're in a gang. They're the K-T Boundary Biters and wavey-guy stumbled into their turf.

[Serpentine]

*ahem*
Tarchia Meaning: brainy one
http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/resources/nature-online/life/dinosaurs/dino-directory/drawing/Tarchia.jpg
Who says scientists don't have a sense of humour? :smallamused:

[Fredthefighter]

*ahem*
Tarchia Meaning: brainy one
http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/resources/nature-online/life/dinosaurs/dino-directory/drawing/Tarchia.jpg
Who says scientists don't have a sense of humour? :smallamused:

Well, considering most dinosaurs relied solely on primal instinct (A link has been made between the way a crocodile's brain and the brain of a T-Rex), it is mor likely that they had none or barely any intelligence.
But I bet it could certainly "Brain" people quite well.

[hamishspence]

Crocs are quite bright for reptiles, good parents, with a certain level of social life.

Dromaesaurs and troodontids are comparable to some birds in brain size, and T. Rex while more distant, might have had some traits in common with them- maybe birds like the turkey vulture (another smell-specialist) are closer for comparison?

[Serpentine]

Well, considering most dinosaurs relied solely on primal instinct (A link has been made between the way a crocodile's brain and the brain of a T-Rex), it is mor likely that they had none or barely any intelligence.:confused:
That would, indeed, be the crux of the joke, with the added intricacy of the illustration depicting a particularly dopey-looking dino.

[hamishspence]

Given ankylosaurs were Beings Of Very Little Brain :smallbiggrin: compared to most of the others, the scientists making a little joke idea would fit.

[Fredthefighter]

Given ankylosaurs were Beings Of Very Little Brain :smallbiggrin: compared to most of the others, the scientists making a little joke idea would fit.

I thought the joke was similar to the "Brainy Pete" joke.

[Thufir]

Nah, but I do have... not so much a theory, but... a terminological quandry? What's the difference, when it gets right down to it, between this "big, flappy, flying, long-headed reptile":
http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Nature/Images/pterosaur_big_old.gif
and this "big, flappy, flying, long-headed reptile":
http://fc79.deviantart.com/fs38/f/2008/342/b/0/Dragon_In_Flight_by_SageGoat.jpg
Aside from superficial physical appearance and supernatural or incredible attributes explainable by exaggeration and misinformation?

Pterosaurs are not dinosrawrs.

[hamishspence]

true, but they are much, much closer than any of the other creatures that tend to be erroneously grouped in with them.

Cladistically, only a very few species are actually closer to dinosaurs, than pterosaurs, which aren't dinosaurs.

[Fredthefighter]

Pterosaurs are not dinosrawrs.

The Quetzalcoatlus was the biggest of the Pterosaurs, with a wingspan of over 10 metres long! This earns it the title of Pterosrawr.

[hamishspence]

It already has rivals for Biggest.

[Fredthefighter]

It already has rivals for Biggest.

Considering that Quetzalcoatlus is one of the biggest flying creatures of all time, I sincerely doubt that any flying creature could rival the Quetzalcoatlus for biggest Pterosaur.

[hamishspence]

Hatzegopteryx is mentioned on Wikipedia as at least the size, perhaps slightly bigger (12 m wingspan) with a more heavily built head.

Giant flying creature unearthed in Transylvania- hmm :smallamused:

[Fredthefighter]

Hatzegopteryx is mentioned on Wikipedia as at least the size, perhaps slightly bigger (12 m wingspan) with a more heavily built head.

Giant flying creature unearthed in Transylvania- hmm :smallamused:

I haven't heard of that one, but I still say that Quetzalcoatlus has the title of Pterosrawr.

[hamishspence]

Like T. Rex, its better known. Or should that be Tyrannosrawrus :smallbiggrin:

[Fredthefighter]

Like T. Rex, its better known. Or should that be Tyrannosrawrus :smallbiggrin:

I meant flying creatures. Although Quetzalcoatlus isn't a dinosrawr, he is a pterosrawr.

[Serpentine]

Pterosaurs are not dinosrawrs.Pfft, whatever. Anyway, aside from mentioning it in a thread on dinosrawrs, I never said they were.
That aside...

THOSE ARE SOOOO COOOOOOL! Found these pictures:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/1386125619_ad80f2b6fc_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2465048793_37c77cd8f7.jpg?v=0Sooooo cool!
And that, my friends, I would argue, is basically a dragon, 'cept for the lack of a tail.

[Fredthefighter]

Pfft, whatever. Anyway, aside from mentioning it in a thread on dinosrawrs, I never said they were.
That aside...

THOSE ARE SOOOO COOOOOOL! Found these pictures:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/1386125619_ad80f2b6fc_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2465048793_37c77cd8f7.jpg?v=0Sooooo cool!
And that, my friends, I would argue, is basically a dragon, 'cept for the lack of a tail.

I agree with you, but why does it resemble a Giraffe?

[Eldan]

Did they really have hair?

[Milanius]

Pfft, whatever. Anyway, aside from mentioning it in a thread on dinosrawrs, I never said they were.
That aside...

THOSE ARE SOOOO COOOOOOL! Found these pictures:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/1386125619_ad80f2b6fc_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2465048793_37c77cd8f7.jpg?v=0Sooooo cool!
And that, my friends, I would argue, is basically a dragon, 'cept for the lack of a tail.How does one spell "Tailless Dragonraptor" in Latin? :smalltongue:

[Fredthefighter]

How does one spell "Tailless Dragonraptor" in Latin? :smalltongue:

I couldn't find latin but I got it in Italian it's: Coda del drago rapaci

[ghost_warlock]

Did they really have hair?

According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterosaur#Hair), they do. It's, evidently, not exactly like mammalian hair, but a darn good resemblance anyway. :smallsmile:

[hamishspence]

I occasionally speculate on- is this "hair" really primitive feathers?

Would push the "origin of the feather" back a long way, and have it spin off in a completely different direction.

Though I doubt it, somehow, its more likely that insulation evolved completely separately.

[Dallas-Dakota]

Yesterday, on National Geographic, I watched a documentary.
It said hobbits are real.
They apparently died out around 73000 years ago.

Discuss.

[Fredthefighter]

Yesterday, on National Geographic, I watched a documentary.
It said hobbits are real.
They apparently died out around 73000 years ago.

Discuss.

How can they be dead when there is a 5ft tall boy in your midst.
There is also Wee Man Akuna and Verne Troyer.

[hamishspence]

Homo erectus differs from modern humans in certain ways. Its not entirely clear if the "hobbits" mentioned by National Geographic evolved from these or not- there was a lot of controversy.

[Serpentine]

Yesterday, on National Geographic, I watched a documentary.
It said hobbits are real.
They apparently died out around 73000 years ago.

Discuss.You didn't know about hobbits? People from my uni were involved in the discovery. Assuming we're talking about the same "hobbits", I didn't think they were that old, but they were found in Indonesia following, interesting enough, stories from the locals about small people who lived in the mountains. There is a bit of controversy around the discovery - some scientists are arguing that they're just very small Homo sapiens or something similar, rather than the whole new species Homo floresiensis. On the other hand, so far as I can tell most of those people said so without actually seeing the remains... Here (http://search.une.edu.au/search/search.cgi?collection=internet;query=hobbits) are all the articles a quick search on my uni site could find.