tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804193170561024122024-02-18T20:00:43.469-08:00Mesozoic MusingsBeetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-2093040506617925262017-06-11T08:35:00.002-07:002017-06-11T08:35:15.787-07:00'King of the Beach'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://orig08.deviantart.net/e251/f/2017/143/6/8/king_of_the_beach_by_rajaharimau98-dba79n0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="800" height="490" src="https://orig08.deviantart.net/e251/f/2017/143/6/8/king_of_the_beach_by_rajaharimau98-dba79n0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This is a piece of art inspired by my recent post on Eustreptospondylus. It was created by Connor Ross, also known as RajaHarimau98, whose fine DeviantArt gallery can be seen <a href="http://rajaharimau98.deviantart.com/gallery/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
Here the theropod can be seen in the act of catching a fish in the shallows, its prey trapped between its jaws.<br />
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Thanks Connor! Everyone go take a look at his gallery, it's definitely worth a look.<br />
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JacobBeetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-86095503808046684732017-06-06T08:50:00.000-07:002017-06-06T08:50:12.768-07:00Speculative Paleontology<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you're trying to imagine a prehistoric animal, your speculations and thoughts can be clouded by what has already been said. Something is repeated so often and seen so often, that it eventually just becomes the norm, and assumed to be the truth. Nothing is moved forward, and the concept stagnates, until you end up with a creature that went out of date centuries ago. Examples? Take your pick, there's plenty of them! Plesiosaurs being shrink wrapped snakes with necks as thin and flexible as a rubber hose. <i>Baryonyx </i>spending most of its life sitting beside a river waiting for a fish to skewer on its claw. Dromaeosaurids being exclusively pack hunters, when there's no reason that a fast-moving predator with a 9 cm long claw couldn't hunt for itself. I could go on. (<span style="font-size: x-small;">I hasten to add here that I'm not picking on these in particular, I'm just using examples to make my point. Although I do have my problems with all three of these, but that's for another time.<span style="font-size: small;">)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When trying to reconstruct an extinct animal, it makes perfect sense that you would look at other images, and then you would do the same, trying to be scientifically accurate - but accuracy isn't neccesarily being one of the crowd. In fact, I would say that being accurate in paleontology is very hard to do, but we can achieve a certain level of accuracy. But anyway, that's not my point. My point is creative stagnation, an inability to think out of the box, simply because it hasn't been done yet. If nobody stands up and complete rethinks something, nothing will ever move on. Plesiosaurs will remain shrink wrapped snakes. <i>Baryonyx </i>will be forever pretending to be a grizzly bear full time. Dromaeosaurids will be doomed to never hunt alone.</span><br />
In some cases, this has been taken to the extreme. Allow me to use an example already stated: shrink wrapped plesiosaurs.<br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Duria_Antiquior.jpg/1920px-Duria_Antiquior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="800" height="440" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Duria_Antiquior.jpg/1920px-Duria_Antiquior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is a well known piece of art first painted in 1830 - that's early Victorian times. You can see the plesiosaurs in his are shrink wrapped, with snake-like, disturbingly thin necks. Fast forward to the 21 Century, and you can still see these snake monsters depicted. Surely it would make sense to put some flesh on it's practically bare bones?<br />
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My point is, in palaeontology things quickly become unquestioned and fact, used again and again in paleoart. Out of the box thinking and speculation comes to a grinding halt, and we get conceptual stagnation.<br />
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To avoid this we sometimes need to completely rethink something. Create a new image, refresh the old concept that has been rotting for centuries. This sometimes means being a bit crazy with your ideas, experimenting . . .<br />
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What I'm getting at is, don't be afraid to try something crazy. Being conservative and doing what everybody else does isn't really going to get you anywhere - use your imagination, do some research, and come up with some new ideas, and suddenly a whole new world of paleontology is opened up. Really speculative reconstructions and thoughts on prehistoric creatures are things that I really encourage. I personally don't think sauropods were covered in some kind of fur-like integument. Does that make it a bad thing to think about this, speculate on it, reconstruct it as such? Paleontology is a guessing game, a fossil is a riddle - in a way, there are no right or wrong answers. There are so many possibilities, some of them undoubtedy a lot stranger than people might suspect, all of which are possible - it's part of what makes the subject so interesting to me.<br />
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What I aim to do is to start from scratch with different prehistoric creatures. Forget about the theories and the arguments, but focus on what I can find out, and what that tells me. Rethink an entire animal. Sometimes the results will not be so very different from the regular ideas, perhaps occaisonally I will create something quite strange and different. These exercises are fun to do, and the results are sometimes startling.<br />
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The creature that I've chosen to first take a look at is the notorious, infamous <i>Tyrannosaurus rex</i>. We'll have to wait and see what I come up with . . .<br />
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Bye for now.Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-232061795918913202017-05-19T08:55:00.000-07:002017-05-19T08:55:14.330-07:00The Spinosaurid Saga I: Aquatic Ancestors & Megalosaurid Musings<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Spinosaurids are a weird bunch, a group of oddball dinosaurs that stand out. There's nothing really like them in the dinosaur world, they're unique anatomically and ecologically. And they're strange, really strange. <i>Spinosaurus </i>is a 14 metre long aquatic predator which between its locomotion and its sail, has caused a great deal of commotion and controversy in the world of paleontology. There's <i>Baryonyx</i>, with its 31 centimetre long claws on the first digits of its hands. There's <i>Irritator</i> from Brazil, its original skull modified to look more interesting, making classifying it a hard job for the paleontologists, so much so that they gave it it's name. I haven't really done much speculative work on spinosaurids before, so I decided that this weird bunch deserved a bit of scrutiny from my part, since despite my love of the weird, I've neglected this bizarre theropod family. So, it's time to unveil the spinosaurid saga!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I felt that I couldn't properly understand the spinosaurids and the ideas that I had circulating unless I understood where these animals came from. As I researched spinosaurid ancestry, I realised that this was too interesting not to talk about. So what started out as a short introduction at the beginning of my post on spinosaurids has become a post all of its own, and has left me with a new-found love of the close relative and possible ancestor of spinosaurids, </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">E</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus</span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;">. So although this post isn't really focusing on spinosaurids but on megalosaurids and </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">E</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus</span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I hope that you find this interesting anyway, and I promise you, this will really help to back up my ideas in the next part of the spinosaurid saga!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Spinosauridae belongs to the superfamily Megalosauroidea, so megalosaurids seem like a good place to start. As regular readers of my blog may know, ecological niches and paleoecology are of particular interest to me - once you know that, you can work out how everything is interlinked and co-existed with each other, and also of course gives you lots of clues on other interesting stuff such as behaviour. So, my question here is -</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Are aquatic habits ancestral to spinosaurids?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's look at megalosaurids, close relatives and possible ancestors of spinosaurids. I want to now look if there's any evidence for swimming abilities and aquatic habits in them. Turns out, yes, there is.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First of all, I'm going to talk about probably the most obvious factor here, and that's <i>Eustreptospondylus</i>. Not exactly a famous dinosaur, but it rose out of the mist of obscurity thanks to its appearance in episode 3 of <i>Walking With Dinosaurs</i>. In the BBC documentary, it was shown swimming from island to island, based on a hypothesis that it was a strong swimmer. The holotype specimen was found in southern England, a place which was at the time a scattered island sitting in a shallow, tropical sea. This specimen was estimated to be around 4.63 metres long and weighing 218 kg by Gregory S. Paul in 1988, and due to this size, it was assumed that this creature had undergone an evolutionary process known as insular dwarfism (when an island-dwelling creature becomes smaller, examples include the extinct pygmy mammoths). However, as Darren Naish and David Martill showed in 2000, the specimen was only a sub-adult, the adult creature would probably have been more like 6 metres long. So insular dwarfism wasn't at work here - more on insular dwarfism, or rather the lack of it, later.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Given that the location where </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> was discovered was at the time a group of islands, it has been suggested that the creature filled a beach comber niche - foraging on the shoreline, and moving from island to island like a Komodo dragon. Seems likely enough, but I would go so far as to suggest that </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> was participating in a little bit of fishing. Take a look at the skull.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j39JbBuhOikQgBC2SBX0kelAHzyYJU46hM3m-G8PdSuh8m8HEK0fkrXZIdChjL9ekqdRSTC0ttWGvdnSSi1j65B4H_OzT20IVBIXaa-kSLZFP5L8Go7Ji9iPpdsmvLmLETk3447Xgkg/s1600/eustreptospondylusskull3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7j39JbBuhOikQgBC2SBX0kelAHzyYJU46hM3m-G8PdSuh8m8HEK0fkrXZIdChjL9ekqdRSTC0ttWGvdnSSi1j65B4H_OzT20IVBIXaa-kSLZFP5L8Go7Ji9iPpdsmvLmLETk3447Xgkg/s640/eustreptospondylusskull3.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The line of the upper jaw quite clearly shows a faint hook shape on the premaxilla, where the tip of the jaw bends down slightly.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55yHP9UJsLTxPpKZjIkemwiBbB_nOgIayMzkkQBktyslwr6wYSp8RTnP6i2THkDy6KdfIlhDyYi-OEe8TOvmWS9r36QqEIxcEyZNdcqI-opijSC5HFQcfDVZNJFjbmDQXnRx_FG4nDwE/s1600/eustreptospondylusskull3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55yHP9UJsLTxPpKZjIkemwiBbB_nOgIayMzkkQBktyslwr6wYSp8RTnP6i2THkDy6KdfIlhDyYi-OEe8TOvmWS9r36QqEIxcEyZNdcqI-opijSC5HFQcfDVZNJFjbmDQXnRx_FG4nDwE/s1600/eustreptospondylusskull3.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This hook shape is something that can be seen in spinosaurids:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Spinosaurus_skull_en.svg/630px-Spinosaurus_skull_en.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Spinosaurus_skull_en.svg/630px-Spinosaurus_skull_en.svg.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By AS - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4743700</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The premaxilla has that bend, albeit a lot more developed, but that's only to be expected. But this is interesting, that this feature is shared in spinosaurids and </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus. </i>This suggests that they were doing something similar, probably in their diet, and of course shows their kinship with each other. Since it's basically an accepted fact that spinosaurids were piscivores, at least in part (it could be argued that some species definitely varied their diet a bit more, but undoubtedly they were focusing quite heavily on aquatic life), this to me suggests that </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> was snacking on sea food. Why? Well, let's take a look at crocodilians . . .</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLhZvUeemExIy3hyphenhyphen6XqbkfN__kGA2JGXIGsTY-ftjPV3Xmxs9VSJxpaBXAh4CTy2-ptq-dX1T7mzKLoCZQ3Jyq8qsmKGUntgk0T-lCwjuHe9hTh5cXm0SviIXRZPOCwWAwDA419g76gA/s1600/Saltwater_Crocodile_%2528Crocodylus_porosus%2529_%25288851846180%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLhZvUeemExIy3hyphenhyphen6XqbkfN__kGA2JGXIGsTY-ftjPV3Xmxs9VSJxpaBXAh4CTy2-ptq-dX1T7mzKLoCZQ3Jyq8qsmKGUntgk0T-lCwjuHe9hTh5cXm0SviIXRZPOCwWAwDA419g76gA/s640/Saltwater_Crocodile_%2528Crocodylus_porosus%2529_%25288851846180%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Original image: By Matt from Melbourne, Australia - Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)Uploaded by SunOfErat, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27543014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seeing something familiar there? That's right, that notch, hook, or whatever you want to call is there again. It doesn't seem to have a technical term, so I'm just using premaxillary suture.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Looking at nile crocodiles, in young individuals its just the notch, a slight dip in the flesh, where the tooth from the lower jaw fits into. But in adults, it clearly develops into a more pronounced hook. Compare the skull of this juvenile . . .</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Crocodylus-krokodilskopf.jpg/800px-Crocodylus-krokodilskopf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Crocodylus-krokodilskopf.jpg/800px-Crocodylus-krokodilskopf.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> By H. Krisp - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13665385</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. . . to the head of this adult.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/NileCrocodile--Etiopia-Omo-River-Valley-01.jpg/800px-NileCrocodile--Etiopia-Omo-River-Valley-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/NileCrocodile--Etiopia-Omo-River-Valley-01.jpg/800px-NileCrocodile--Etiopia-Omo-River-Valley-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> By Gianfranco Gori - File:Etiopia - omo river valley DSC 2835 (4).jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41557894</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the above image you can clearly see that a notch for the tooth to fit into, so as not to slice into the gum, has developed into a more distinct shape, similar to what is seen in spinosaurids and </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">E</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus</span></span></span></span></i></span>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But there's more . . .</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This feature is present in the extinct, aquatic phytosaurs:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Phytosaur_skull.jpg/1280px-Phytosaur_skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Phytosaur_skull.jpg/1280px-Phytosaur_skull.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By Ryan Somma - originally posted to Flickr as Phytosaur skull, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5076886</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And in pike eels:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are other animals too, such as gars. In some of these the feature creates a hook shape at the tip of the snout. And what do all of these creatures have in common? <i>They all either eat fish or are thought to have eaten fish.</i> Clearly there is something about this particular jaw structure that helps in snatching up and keeping hold of slippery prey. <i>Spinosaurus</i> has a well developed one, and our <i>Eustreptospondylus </i>has what looks like the beginnings of a premaxillary suture. It's underdeveloped, but it's still there. But remember how underdeveloped it is in a young croc skull, see one of the images above in this post. And remember that the specimen of<i> Eustreptospondylus isn't fully grown! </i>I would suggest that this feature could develop, just as with crocodiles, as it matures - or maybe it didn't, who knows. But either way, I would say this is evidence for a partially piscivorous diet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, let's move onto other megalosaurids to see if we can uncover any further evidence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Magnosaurus</i>: lived on a chain of islands, so as with </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> it seems entirely plausible that would have been capable of swimming from island to island.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Streptospondylus</i>: as above.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Duriavenator: </i>as above.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Dubreuillosaurus: </i>as above</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That's 5 megalosaurids, all of them living on small islands in a shallow, tropical ocean, all of them close relatives of spinosaurids, at least one of them a possible piscivore. I would say that these island-dwellers were likely all fairly good swimmers, allowing them to swim from island to island. My reasoning behind that is centered around insular dwarfism.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has been proven that, despite previous misconceptions, <i>non of these megalosaurids are insular dwarfs</i>. Thing is, I've been thinking, that's actually a bit weird. They were living on small islands - insular dwarfism is known as an island rule for a reason. How come they haven't become insular dwarfs? One of the reasons this process occurs is because if you're a smaller animal, you need smaller territories and less food, which helps when you're living on a small island with the rest of your population.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Europasaurus_und_Giraffatitan_skulls.jpg/800px-Europasaurus_und_Giraffatitan_skulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Europasaurus_und_Giraffatitan_skulls.jpg/800px-Europasaurus_und_Giraffatitan_skulls.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> By Nils Knötschke - Nils Knötschke, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1228462</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Above: an example of insular dwarfism in a dinosaur. This shows <i>Europasaurus</i> compared to its continental relative, <i>Giraffatitan.</i> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You would think that the pressures of living on an island would lead these megalosaurids to become small. <i>But they haven't. Why?</i> The best reason I can think of is that they weren't stuck on a single island. Think about it - it's already been suggested that some of these species were good swimmers, and I've suggested that </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus </i>was a partial piscivore. It makes sense that these creatures could, and frequently would, move from island to island. In other words, they didn't have a restricted population, so the rule of insular dwarfism didn't neccesarily effect them, because they could move wherever they wished. They might have been moving around a lot, never using up all of the resources in any one place, instead island hopping, swimming through the shallow, tropical sea.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This seems the most plausible way of explaining how these island dwelling theropods hadn't been influenced by insular dwarfism: <i>they weren't constrained</i>. They could move where they wished, perhaps not having set territories, or maybe defending islands from rival island-hoppers, until resources began to dwindle, and the creature was forced to move on. I don't know. But I feel like this is a good and plausible explanation. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's return, for a moment, to </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i>, probably the most important dinosaur in this post. It has been argued that it was the closest relative to the spinosaurids, and some have even said that it may be the ancestor of spinosaurids. I agree with that. All of what I've found researching this post really backs up that idea in my head, and I find it entirely likely that </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> was in fact the ancestor of all spinosaurids.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX6_6LSipV9EjtxW6Sik_iy8bcz4XzP4DRdv-V4XEFMwr9j4PB83NmtBdHpn6PZxRvkflCQ2PaV7V8BGYD0hWsmK71HllGqozRlAErUaiqjG80xS0gOB5Q3Nd8_nS8JO17FAPx2U2G0U/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX6_6LSipV9EjtxW6Sik_iy8bcz4XzP4DRdv-V4XEFMwr9j4PB83NmtBdHpn6PZxRvkflCQ2PaV7V8BGYD0hWsmK71HllGqozRlAErUaiqjG80xS0gOB5Q3Nd8_nS8JO17FAPx2U2G0U/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's a section of a drawing that I did for this post, depicting </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i>. As I was drawing it, I realised that compared to some other megalosaurids, this particular genus has an unusually slender, spinosaurid-like snout. Its nostrils are already quite far back on its skull. It has the beginnings of a hook-like shape on in its maxilla (and as I've already argued, as the specimen is a young one, it could have developed more as the animal reached maturity). I'll talk more later on what speculative features I've added in this drawing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But looking at this, I can very much support the idea of </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> being the ancestor of spinosaurids. And if that was the case, could it be that all spinosaurids came from island-hopping theropods, which habitually travelled through the shallow, tropical sea, moving from island to island, and feasting upon sealife? I think it's plausible, and it would mean that spinosaurids evolved in and around the sea. And if all that I've talked about was true, and </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> was a good swimmer, a possible partial piscivore, and regularly paddled from island to island, that would mean that spinosaurids were <i>ancestrally at home in and around the water.</i> Which neatly backs up the ideas I'm going to be explaining in part II of the spinosaurid saga.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before we move on, I would like to briefly describe a few things about the drawing I made, in particular the features on </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i> here. One thing that I always try and include in my reconstructions is soft tissue. By that I don't mean religiously sticking to the skeleton. I use skeletal references of course, they are an invaluable resource, but I choose to always try and put a thick layer of flesh between where the bone lies and the skin. In particular here it's obvious on the outline of the skull - some people seem to only put skin over the skull, with the antorbital fenestrae painfully obvious, skin sunken in as if the creature has been shrink-wrapped. So, as always, I added more soft tissue, particularly on its nose, and on its lacrimal bone (the jutting-out bone above its eye). The lacrimal bone is obvious in quite a lot of theropods, genera such as <i>Allosaurus</i>, etc - but I often find that as usual, the lacrimal bone isn't much more than just that - bone. Skin draped over the top of it, and that's it. I tend to think that the lacrimal bone would have been extended by soft tissue, as shown here in this </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus</i>. Also bear in mind that I illustrated a sub-adult here, as the specimens we have are a similar age, so the lacrimal bone itself could have grown as it reached maturity - regardless, I made it more of a display structure, the bone itself supporting a fleshy comb. I also tend to think that spinosaurids would have had a pouch similar to pelicans, so to illustrate that I support the theory of </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Eustreptospondylus </i>being a spinosaurid ancestor, I gave it an extendable throat pouch. The only thing that I'm displeased with here is its nostril, I think that I may have placed it too far back in the external naris.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, to conclude, I've created a small, speculative piece of paleo fiction featuring ideas I've put across today. Enjoy!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">163 million years ago, and we are in what will one day become southern England - although it is not recognisable as such, looking completley different from the land it will, millions of years in the future, become. It is covered in the shallow, sparkling azure sea, dotted with small islands, shaggy with vegetation, rimmed with golden sand. The climate is warm and tropical, the whole place has a paradisical air to it. But just last night, this primordial paradise was wracked by a storm that turned the aquamarine ocean into a steely grey, whipping up waves, and tugging at the plant-covered scalps of the islands. Now, the dark, stormy rind of night has peeled away, leaving the day fresh and blue. But the storm has left its mark . . .</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the shore of an island shaped like the head of a plesiosaur, there is chaos. Marine life has been tugged unmercifully from the depths, before being thrown onto the beach, where it now lies strewn across the golden sand. Driftwood encrusted with the thick, banded stalks of </span></i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pentacrinites <i>crinoids, some of them several metres long; ammonites with glossy shells and spotted tentacles; an empty </i>Hybodus <i>eggcase. All of it, lying there for the taking. The occaisonal tropical storms may be brutal, but for the survivors, it's a feast.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>A </i>E</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus <i>emerges from the woodland that covers the center of the island. It's a sub-adult, soon to enter sexual maturity, the twin red combs on its head, one above each eye, signalling that he's a male. He spent the storm curled up in a hollow, but now he can stretch his legs and search for food. As he leaves the vegetation behind, his whole body comes into view - he is nearly 5 metres long (fully grown, he'll be 6 metres), and is covered in dark chocolate brown skin, almost black, cream on his underside. His left hand is missing, bitten off in a run-in with an adult male, but it is long healed, and he gets along fine just with the stump and his other good arm.</i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He scavenges along the shoreline for a while, crunching at crinoids, and extracting ammonites from their tightly coiled shells by placing a foot on them, while tugging the soft, exposed head and tentacles with his jaws. He's used to eating anything he can find on the islands and beaches, but with this bonanza of free food on offer, he can afford to be picky. He knows that if he searches, he may well be able to find a worthy prize - so long as no adults have got there first.</i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Having searched the beaches of the island, the male paddles out into the sea to make the short crossing to the neighbouring island. His sensitive nostrils have already smelt something beginning to rot in the warm sun, just across the water, so pausing only to duck under the water for a few seconds, washing his skin and sparse, bristly feathers, he hastens across, swimming powerfully.</i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>After a short while, our male makes it to the shore of the neighbouring island, and sits on the sand for a moment in a sphinx-like position, bathing in the sunlight like a cormorant, allowing himself to dry off. Following his sensitive nose, he tracks the interesting scent around the island, to where he finally finds his prize: a young </i>Cryptoclidus<i>. In plesiosaur years, it was at a similar point of its life to the </i></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">E</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus <i>male.</i> <i>No longer a baby, but not yet an adult. Its banded juvenile patterning was just beginning to fade - but it was quite dead now, washed up during the night. Already many scavengers have already been taking their pick - something has torn off one of its back flippers, and there are cuts along its side where a flock of young </i></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">E</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus <i>had been picking at the leathery skin. The group of young, dappled and web-footed, scatter as the male snaps at them, rumbling a warning to them to stay back. Cannibalism isn't uncommon amongst theropods, and he wouldn't think twice before snapping up the youngsters. Chattering to themselves in high-pitched alarm calls, the babies jump into a large tidepool, where they swim away amongst the seaweed, far more agile and skilled in the water than the sub-adult. With the rivals dealt with for now, the male turns his attention to the dead plesiosaur.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaMvic9ReSJQF1oSqp-TxIK0PW7r8x7k_Y-FHX6Nh4yP7ZuuwuaRiEQ22uHGExQIyPd3TZTQ1tXS37GSVzFKXFIz6M7iwYasNz6EqSID9vVzVGY0PGGz3hTPh0tuD_isp_KHKEdL7c1k/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaMvic9ReSJQF1oSqp-TxIK0PW7r8x7k_Y-FHX6Nh4yP7ZuuwuaRiEQ22uHGExQIyPd3TZTQ1tXS37GSVzFKXFIz6M7iwYasNz6EqSID9vVzVGY0PGGz3hTPh0tuD_isp_KHKEdL7c1k/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>He bites its neck, twisting with his head, just to make sure that it's really dead. Satisfied with the snapping noises and the motionless body, he drops the long, banded neck, and begins to tear away strips of leathery hide from the plesiosaur's back, exposing its fatty flesh - good food for a growing male. Gobbling down chunks of meat whole, his throat poach expands, bulging with the food. He eats all he can, then lies in the sand beside it, bathing in the sunlight. He will eat the rest after a short doze as he digests his meal.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Unfortunately, the young male isn't the only big animal on this archipelago. Another </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">E</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus <i>has caught the scent of the dead plesiosaur, and has swam a long way to reach it. She's a fully grown adult, with a flopping brown comb on her head and a scarred body. She approaches the male, rumbling her warning. He doesn't back down though, instead he arches his neck, bows long, and hisses at her, exposing his serrated tongue. It's an open challenge and a threat. The female charges, hissing in return, and the male tries to fight back, but she is larger, stronger, and more experienced than he is. Her jaws snap shut around his jaws, and she shakes his head from side to side, until she finally lets him go as he kicks at her with his hind legs. With both his pride and his face injured, the male dashes for the sea, paddling away to safety. He'll have a scar across his snout now, but luckily his thick flesh will heal fast, and he isn't too badly injured. He may have lost his meal, but there's sure to be more to eat out here, in this beautiful, primordial paradise . . .</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Conclusion:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">E</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">has a small premaxillary suture, a feature shared by spinosaurids, and a variety of other piscivorous animals, suggesting it included fish in its diet, and as the specimen is not fully grown, the suture may have become more developed as it matured. It and many other megalosaur relatives lived on islands in a shallow sea that once covered much of Europe, but despite previous misconceptions, they have not experienced insular dwarfism, to which I suggest that they were escaping this island rule by being able to move from island to island - basically, they were good swimmers. I support the idea that </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">E</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ustreptospondylus</span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> may have been the ancestor of spinosaurids, and it is certainly the closest relative to them that we have discovered. To conclude, I would suggest that because of this, spinosaurids may have evolved as island-hopping megalosaurids in a tropical shallow ocean, and that the answer to my initial question is yes, <b>spinosaurids were ancestrally semi-aquatic.</b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Also, as always I welcome art inspirted by or based on my posts - if you create good art, then it will probably be featured on this blog, along with a link to your art page, such as DeviantArt. Any art is welcome, whether it be directly based on what I wrote here, or just inspired by it, or if it's a completely new and different inteptretation of my idea.<b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks for reading guys, keep an eye out for part 2 of the spinosaurid saga, and other posts. In part II I will discuss the spinosaurids themselves, having looked at their ancestry - see you then!</span></span></span></span></span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-28479861704702594552017-03-04T03:15:00.003-08:002017-03-06T11:45:05.319-08:00Pinacosaurus the Fourth<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinacosaurus is back, and this time it's got a sneeze and it's not afraid to use it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://img07.deviantart.net/2651/i/2017/061/0/e/a_bloody_sneeze_by_hodarinundu-db0z0ou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://img07.deviantart.net/2651/i/2017/061/0/e/a_bloody_sneeze_by_hodarinundu-db0z0ou.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This brilliant piece of art was made by<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> HodariNundu, inspired by my post on Pinacosaurus tongues. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Take a look at his awesome <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DeviantArt gallery<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, it's packed f<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ull of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">imaginative d<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">epictions of prehistoric life: <a href="http://hodarinundu.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have loved all of the art you guys have done ins<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pired by p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ost, but this <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">has got to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">be the most imaginative so far.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He can explain his idea much better th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an I can, so I'll quote him here:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Velociraptor learns that just because the front end of an ankylosaur lacks a club, <br />doesn´t mean it's necessarily harmless. I was inspired to draw this by a blog post by fellow deviant in which the idea of Pinacosaurus and other Asian ankylosaurs as possible eaters of social insects is explored.<br />I
had already heard of the idea and drew something inspired by it, as
some of you probably remember. However, re-reading it, it occured to
me... those guys not only had long tongues, they also seemingly had
large cavities in their noses which are sort of a mystery (unless I'm
wrong) and have been interpreted as possible air sacs to inflate
colorful or resonating sacs. But what if that's not all? What if the
insect-eater hypothesis is right, and some ankylosaurs spent most of
their early years feeding on ants and whatever social insect was around
during the Cretaceous?<br />What if they, like today's horny toad of the
North American deserts, sequestered the formic acid of its prey and
concentrated it in their own blood? What if they had lots of vessels on
their nose that could burst and squirt relatively large amounts of blood
and snot laced with acid to the face of its enemies?<br />Horny toads
squirt acid-laced blood through their eyes, and although this defense
doesn´t work as well on birds as it does on mammals, and so one should
wonder how much of an effect it would have on a Velociraptor, I still
thought it was an interesting idea to portray. In any case, being soaked
in sticky blood snot would probably make you sticky and dirty, attract
insects, and maybe even larger, hungry predators (if they were around),
making ankylosaurs prey to be avoided whenever possible...<br /><br />By
the way, it may seem difficult to believe that an animal as large as an
ankylosaur would feed exclusively on insects (even though it's not
impossible, seeing how nutritious they are, enough that animals as large
as bears dedicate lots of time to find and eat them, and also, c´mon,
blue whales and krill?). It may be that the juveniles were the ones
eating most insects and eventually shifted to a more vegetarian diet as
they grew, not unlike many grain-eating birds that feed their chicks
with insects today, because of the protein and all that. Who knows! All
speculation here. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">HodariNundu's Edit:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Forgot to add, some ankylosaurs had armored eyelids too. Why? Did
small-ish predators such as Velociraptor have the nasty habit of poking
the eyes out of their larger prey to render them defenseless? Were the
ankylosaurs feeding on very thorny plants? Or perhaps on biting,
stinging or formic-acid rich insects? Who knows, maybe they needed
protection against rival ankylosaurs and their ACID SNEEZE</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This depiction of Pinacosaurus is exactly the sort of thing that I love: speculative and imaginative, not afraid to push the boundaries. Well done HodariNundu, and thanks for your art - the same goes to everybody else who has created images of Pinacosaurus for this.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-79948278978499663942017-03-01T10:16:00.002-08:002017-03-01T10:16:26.706-08:00Pinacosaurus Strikes Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://orig14.deviantart.net/4024/f/2017/058/5/f/pinacosaurus_tongue_by_kutchicetus_minimus-db0lla3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="499" src="https://orig14.deviantart.net/4024/f/2017/058/5/f/pinacosaurus_tongue_by_kutchicetus_minimus-db0lla3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is another brilliant illustration made by people who have been looking at my Pinacosaurus post: <a href="http://orig14.deviantart.net/4024/f/2017/058/5/f/pinacosaurus_tongue_by_kutchicetus_minimus-db0lla3.jpg" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This is made by the amazing Kutchicetus-Minimus - I would highly recommend taking look at this DeviantArt profile: <a href="http://kutchicetus-minimus.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">here.</a> This intepretation is really cool, and quite cute I think. What I love about it is its barbed, woodpecker-like tongue, which looks perfect for scooping up ants. Also notice the speculative integument noticeable on its underside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I find it quite interesting how this and another person have made Pinacosaurus look quite cute and endearing, where as in my version, I turned it into some kind of snotty, ugly, goat-eyed demon.</span></div>
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<a href="http://orig01.deviantart.net/708b/f/2017/050/f/3/pinacosaurus_and_his_tongue___read_on_______by_jurassicjacob-dazlknw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://orig01.deviantart.net/708b/f/2017/050/f/3/pinacosaurus_and_his_tongue___read_on_______by_jurassicjacob-dazlknw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ve really e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">joyed everybody's art based on my <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinac<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">osaurus post, anybody els<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e who wants to, feel free to do so. I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">welcome any ar<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t insp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ired<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> by, based on, or <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">re<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">intepret<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ing my ideas<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, that's all for now - rest assured I have l<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">oads planned<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I fe<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">el that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">my paleoart is i<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mproving<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've worked out a good way of doing it<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">with my previous attempts I'd eit<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">her not <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">used a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ny skeletal reference<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s or had become too focused on the skeleton. I<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'ve got lot<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s of ideas and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">theories<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that I want to dev<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lop, discuss, and dr<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">aw<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and whene<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ver there's <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">some <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">new paleonto<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">logical news that catches my eye, I'll <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">post it here with my thoughts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the upcoming <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">weeks and months you can expect <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">paleoecology<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> stuff, ad<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">vice to paleoartists on <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">adding more in<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">juries, parasites, and illnes<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ses, a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s well as a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">peculative Majungas<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">aurus . . .</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until next time, bye! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-61197360457706127572017-02-23T09:46:00.000-08:002017-02-23T09:46:06.895-08:00Ecology of the Hell Creek Formation: Introduction<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although most of the posts so far on Mesozoic Musings have been concerning speculative appearances, an increasingly interesting topic for me has been paleoecology, and in particular, how different species coexisted without competition. This is niche partitioning - how resources (not neccasarily food) are shared between animals by varying what they use in sometimes very small ways. For example, on the African savanna, the big carnivores partition their prey by being adapted to some particular food: cheetahs prefer small antelope, lions like mid-sized animals such as wildebeest, buffalo, and zebra, leopards feed upon a variety of small animals and hoofstock, etc. I should also note that by no means is niche partitioning some kind of rule that stops animals from eating things which doesn't fall neatly into their category. In fact, there's a lot of overlap - but you'll notice if you look carefully, that many animals differ in some way in their diet, and often show specializations towards a particular food source, even if they don't rely on it heavily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the moment, I find herbivore niche partitioning particularly interesting, and how we can apply it using educated speculation to prehistoric ecosystems. I'll be doing this quite a lot in the future on Mesozoic Musings, focusing on different formations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Recently, I've been looking at the ecosystem<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of the</span> Hell Creek Formation. This is the first ecosystem that I'll be looking at on Mesozoic Musings, so I wanted to start off with what has to be one of the best known formations. Also, bear in mind tha<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e</span></span> things I'm working on here are still in development - I'm basically thinking aloud here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First of all, some background information. I'm sure that most people reading Mesozoic Musings will know <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quite<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> a bit about Hell Cre<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ek already, it's pretty well known in paleo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ntology after all, but still<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, just to set <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the scene<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, so to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">speak.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Hell Creek during the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">La<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">te <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cretac<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eous was a moist, mild to sub<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-tropical <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">area with fl<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">uctuating rive<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">r<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, channels, and deltas<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. It was at the time on<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> a coastal plane w<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hich extended outwards towar<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ds the newly-formed R<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ocky Mountains.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fairly flat floodpl<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ain, cove<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">red in forests <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">consisting of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">small to med<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ium sized trees. The plant life consisted of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mostly a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ngiosperms, with some gin<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">gkos, some gymnosperms<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> an<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d a few ferns<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, horsetails, and cyc<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ads. A rather mixed grou<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lants, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">notably with 90% of al<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">l plant specimens collected consisting o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">f angiosperms<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> By Stickpen - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7163942</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These fo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ssilized fr<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">uit are kn<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">own as <i>Sp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">inifructus antiqu<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">us</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, of an unknown family and order, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">this specimen has been discovered in Hell Creek.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lant life<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> reall<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y wouldn't have looked so very different from </span></span></span>that in a modern day woo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dland<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, to the untrained ey<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nvioroment in a nutshell<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> was moist, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">forested, and with lots<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of rivers and maybe swamps. Now, le<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t's take a look at the herbivorous<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> din<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">osaurs f<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ound here.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First of all, here's a study that<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> shows the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">8 most common<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> dinosaur families found in Hell Creek:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ceratopsidae (61%)</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hadrosauridae (2<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3%)</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">O<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rnithomimidae <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(5<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">%<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">)</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tyrannosauridae (4<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">%)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dromaeosauridae (2%)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pa<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">chycephalosauridae (1%)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Troodontidae (1%) </span> </span> </span></span></span></span> </span> </span></b> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">W<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hile o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bviously fossils can'<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t be used as very accurate judges of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">paleopopulations, it can help us to get a good idea of what<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> animals were common and which were r<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">are in the area, especiall<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y in a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> place such as <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hell Creek where we have s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">uch a wealth of data. I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">will also refer to more in-depth studies <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">foc<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">using on particular species populati<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ons in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he upcoming text.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quick intr<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">oduction will be f<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ollowed up upcoming <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">posts on individual species <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and how th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ey would have fit into the ecosystem<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of Hell Creek<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until next time!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-92036211052849157682017-02-21T08:01:00.000-08:002017-02-21T08:01:42.608-08:00Pinacosaurus: The Sequel<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since I spread the word about my post on Pinacosaurus and its freakish tongue, a few people have been working on some art inspired by my post and other people's work. They have agreed for me to share their amazing artwork here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b5E3gjAheGZgtU83RYqXhb7zkyIP6jqliI1C5HCTDEagTpPNiF-_tqGrm6kZvL9wukryZEmIzuodqFpWU5NH2TbRUauXBAPed0yVH5ncgdZPWk8p546tkH5XioE3lG4qZjanqpNNdNs/s1600/haha_long__tongue__boy_by_rajaharimau98-dazmwn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b5E3gjAheGZgtU83RYqXhb7zkyIP6jqliI1C5HCTDEagTpPNiF-_tqGrm6kZvL9wukryZEmIzuodqFpWU5NH2TbRUauXBAPed0yVH5ncgdZPWk8p546tkH5XioE3lG4qZjanqpNNdNs/s640/haha_long__tongue__boy_by_rajaharimau98-dazmwn2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is by Connor Ross, or RajaHarimau98 as he is known by his username on DeviantArt. Here's his brilliant gallery on DevianArt: <a href="http://rajaharimau98.deviantart.com/gallery/" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He gave his intepretation of Pinacosaurus nasal balloons too, an interesting speculative addition which is based off the unusual cavities in ankylosaurid noses. I really like the way the tongue has been done on this too, it looks more muscular than my version, which is actually how I imagined it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHXXutcN8zQ-iazC6fGu6cfhz_CsNnoo6sb7ue6LXVJcvjU761W5YuUUHzKZbdYH2UTlnUjo_x-5qpPc_9sUzW-bVDlp0Mwi3p7zda4J5ej8U_lDifjBwfmb8sSHC-3LthGfAdQJKLFE/s1600/sketchy_pinacosaurus_by_megabass22-dazuvbt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHXXutcN8zQ-iazC6fGu6cfhz_CsNnoo6sb7ue6LXVJcvjU761W5YuUUHzKZbdYH2UTlnUjo_x-5qpPc_9sUzW-bVDlp0Mwi3p7zda4J5ej8U_lDifjBwfmb8sSHC-3LthGfAdQJKLFE/s640/sketchy_pinacosaurus_by_megabass22-dazuvbt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is by megabass22, here's his DeviantArt profile: <a href="http://megabass22.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This intepretation includes speculative integument on the belly and of course the tell-tale tongue! I'll note here that I am undecided on whether or not ankylosaurids and stegosaurids had any kind of feathery integument, but I would probably say no. I wouldn't rule it out, though. Although I think that speculation like this is still a good thing in paleoart, no matter what your personal opinion is on the matter, I would actively encourage the speculative and experimental use of feathery integument and other such things in paleoart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thanks to megabass22 and RajaHarimau98 for your art, and anybody reading, I would highly recommend that you take a look at their art in the links above.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, that's all for now - I'll be doing more on ankylosaurids and other Mesozoic animals and ecosystems in the very near future . . . </span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-85596538929976068912017-02-20T07:36:00.000-08:002017-02-20T07:36:15.141-08:00Forgotten Ornithomimidae<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Take a look at some paleoart, a nice sellection, DeviantArt is good. You'll see lots and lots of theropods, some sauropods and ceratopsians, maybe a few ankylosaurids and stegosaurids (both forgotten in recent paleoart). However, take a closer look at the paleoart depicting theropods, and you'll notice something . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where have all the ornithomimids gone?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I noti<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ced this <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in 201<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3</span>, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">when <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I spent large amounts of time browsing DeviantArt, looking at the paleoart. This was a time <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">when <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pretty muc<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">h every self-respecting paleoartist on DA <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">were produ<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">cing pieces <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for <i>All Your Yesterdays</i>, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or inspired by the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">original<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> book. Th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is was great for me, I loved seeing all those speculative <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">depic<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tions, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it's actually one of the things which kind of got <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">me back into paleontology<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">An<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">yway, during this time, I rea<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lised something - in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">all my hours of browsing all the amazing paleoart, I had<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n'<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t seen a single ornithom<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">imid<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I d<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">on't know what happened to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">them, but <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">they<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">seem to have disappeared. This isn't to say that there aren't </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">any</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> depictions of them, I can think of at least one of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the top o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">f my head - but still, why ha<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s</span> the paleoart community lost interest in them? There seems to be even l<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ess paleo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">art featuring them than <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dinosaurs whi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ch I<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> already thought were unde<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">r<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">represented<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, such as stegosaurids and ankylosaurids. Inde<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ed, ma<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ny of the paleoart that I have<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> seen seems quite biased towards theropods, but as for that particular group, the ornithomimids - nowhere to be seen.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s is sad<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, really, because the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y're pretty fascinating animals<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- kind of like a cross between a goose and a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n emu<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have only just beg<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an thinking about <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ornithomimidae ecology</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and I think that it should be an in<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">teresting t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">opic that I will definitely look into in more depth in future posts<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway, until then<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, bye, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hopef<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ull<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y we'll be seeing more reconstructions o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">f ornithomimids in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">paleoart . . .</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-46043085442178646042017-02-18T11:50:00.003-08:002017-02-19T02:03:04.888-08:00Pinacosaurus: Long Tongued, Armoured Beast Of The Cretaceous<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhGDweTcPZl4K8vJS7DW7JSgl2xTYj9NDqEz_4myBECoS4SEx95FB8Kvz0IEI4oAHSUZBJHy7LlEjCLMlHl2tCSxnsbH8WNx3aS4sPhsquQI385pKfaDcL8tj7rP7CHCFRc-0OGTV7mE/s1600/Pinacosaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhGDweTcPZl4K8vJS7DW7JSgl2xTYj9NDqEz_4myBECoS4SEx95FB8Kvz0IEI4oAHSUZBJHy7LlEjCLMlHl2tCSxnsbH8WNx3aS4sPhsquQI385pKfaDcL8tj7rP7CHCFRc-0OGTV7mE/s400/Pinacosaurus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">A Pinacosaurus showing <span style="color: #0000ee;">off its <span style="color: #0000ee;">impres<span style="color: #0000ee;">sive, purple<span style="color: #0000ee;"> tongue. <span style="color: #0000ee;">To see my <span style="color: #0000ee;">reasoning<span style="color: #0000ee;"> behind this, <span style="color: #0000ee;">read on . . .</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Pinacosaurus.jpg/1024px-Pinacosaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Pinacosaurus.jpg/1024px-Pinacosaurus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By Kabacchi - Pinacosaurus - 01Uploaded by FunkMonk, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9933724</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinacosaurus was an ankylosaurid which lived in<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Mongolia during the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> late Cretaceous, around <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">75-80 million years ago. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've got to admit, I've got a softspot for ankylosa<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">urids, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as I can really <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">visualize them as these low-sl<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ung, cantankerous, armoured creatures <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bulldozi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ng their way t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hrough the und<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">erg<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">row<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">th - in fact, hold t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> thought, I'll be looking <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">more into this and ankylosaurid ecology in a future post.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway, onto today<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'s s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ubject - <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a particular ankylosaurid, Pinacosaurus. Th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ese creature<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s lived in a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n arid, semi-desert region<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> interspaced with<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the occaisonal oasis.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, deserts aren't <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">exactly renowned for their large amount of plant lif<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e, so what was Pinacosaurus finding to eat out there to<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> eat</span> in the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">arid, sandy plains?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is isn't to say that there aren't plants in deserts,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and that large <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">herbivores <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">can't </span>survi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">v<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e there. Take <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dromedary</span> camels, for example<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> -</span> they<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> manage to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">find enough <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">vegetation to fee<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d upon <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">even in their arid habitat. According to one study, a typical diet <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is 47.5<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">% </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dwarf shrubs, 29.9% trees, 11.2% grasses, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">11% vines</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, and </span>0.2% </span>other herbs<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Can we<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, in fact, learn an<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ything about P<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">inacosaurus diet from dromed<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">aries? <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think that we c<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A large portion of the plants t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hat these camels are eating - <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">many of t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he shrubs and trees<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> shown in the statistics above - are spiny. </span></span>Examples include <i>Vachellia tortilis </i>and <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, both<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of which protect their lea<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ves with vicious spines.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The spines of <i>Vachellia tortilis</i> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> By JMK - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24858716</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">iny<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">vegetation is something of<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> a recurring them<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e in deserts, actua<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">l<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ly. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Cacti are the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">most well-kno<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wn<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, and are a very succesful group of plants. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In arid regions, leaves are often <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">relatively moisture-filled, and make for good food for animals. Ther<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">efore, the p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lants <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have to protect what little they have<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - with <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">spiky defen<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">c<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">es.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">N<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ow, let's p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ut two and t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wo together: <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nacosaurus, the desert dwelling<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> an<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">kylosaurid, likely ate a lot of spiny pl<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ants<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, which are predominant in desert<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ecosystems. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">o, then we would expect to see some kind of adaptation<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s</span> towards <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">f<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eeding on th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">orny p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lants . . .</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And that's where this <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fas<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">cinating article comes in<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: <a href="http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/27/ankylosaurs-slurped-food-with-powerful-tongues/" target="_blank">http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/27/ankylosaurs-slurped-food-with-powerful-tongues/</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In short, preserved paraglos<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">salia </span>have been found <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in a Pinacosaurus fossil<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Paraglossalia are part of the hydro<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">br<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">anchial apparatus, at<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tachment points for ton<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">gue muscles.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From Hill et al., <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2015</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's unusual for <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">paraglossali<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a to </span></span>fossilize because they're so delicate and often decay rather than fossilize.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> However, Pinacosaurus has provided us with the opp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ort<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">unity to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">amazing in<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sight into its life appearance and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">diet <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">thanks to its preserved t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hroat bones.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">paraglossalia in this specimen are unusually large and robust<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, as can <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">be quite clea<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rly see<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n in th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e image above. As th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ese are <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">muscle atta<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">c</span>hment points, <b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">this strong<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">l<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y suggests that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinacosaurus had a muscular, powerful tongue.</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, this is really interesting to me.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's not much point in having powerful tongue unless it can <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">extend out of your mouth, so i<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t in turn suggests that as well as it being <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">muscular, its tongue<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> was also <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quite long.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e presence of such a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n organ <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">may actually <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have bee<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n the vital adaptation that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">allo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wed Pinacosaurus to conquer its envio<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">roment and get <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at its food.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, there's 2 theories here<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'ll prese<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nt both of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">them and then come to a conclusion at the end of the post.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Theory </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>#1<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Giraffe Theory</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Now <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">let's go back to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he stuff I was going on about at t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he beginning of the post, about spiny plants. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">P<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">inacosaurus, living in its arid envi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">oroment,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> would likely <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">find a lot of vegetation to be thorny<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. A modern-d<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ay <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">adaptation to help combat this<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">found in the giraffe. Its <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">long, prehensile, purple tongue<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is used for grasping <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">prickly vegetat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ion<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pulling up lea<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ves while avoiding the larger spikes<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Given <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the habitat of Pinacosaurus,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">seems quite plausible that it <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">might <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have used its tongue for feeding upon spiny <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">plants.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Al<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so of note <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> dark</span> p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">urple-black colouration of </span></span></span>giraffe tongues<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">probably to p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rotect it from su<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nburn. Other animals<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that often keep their tongu<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e out of their mouth, such as anteaters, also have similar<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ly<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-coloured tongues - it's pro<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bable that w<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hichever <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">theory is true, this one or the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">one b<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">elow, the tongue of Pinaco<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sauru<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">w<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ould be sim<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ilar.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>T<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">heory <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2: Anteater <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Theory</span></span></span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even before the a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rt<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">icle <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I linked to earlier in this post was <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">publ<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ished</span></span>, Duane Nash, a paleontology enthusiast who I hugely admi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">re<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> for his <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">brilliant theories, was already<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> suggesting<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the presence of a large tongue in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tarchia, due to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the unusual notch in its <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">upper jaw, which resembles that of a sloth bear, and he suggested th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as with the bear, it allowed a long t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ongue <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to protrude from the m<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">outh. See his <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">post <a href="http://antediluviansalad.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/of-notches-tarchia-and-sloth-bears.html" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">However, his conclusion was different from the giraffe theory I suggested above. Instead, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">his conclusion was that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tarchia</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">might have been a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n insectivore<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, rather like a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> well-armoured anteater. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, Tarchia isn't the species that I've been referring to<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in this post, I've been talking about Pinacosaurus, but both have a similar jaw notch, and I believe that both of them - and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">possibly other species of ankylosaurids - had sim<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ilarly la<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rge tongues.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As another convincing elem<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ent<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nash's argument<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is that like many ank<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ylosaurids, Tarchia has quite weak <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dentition. This is something that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">will probably touch upon in a fut<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ure <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">post. However, it is usually argued that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">where they lacked in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">good plant-munching teeth, they made up for in large, fermenting <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">guts, and they may have used stones to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">help grind down <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">vegetation<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> So<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> could the insectivore ar<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">gument extend from Tarchia<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, to Pinacosaurus as well? <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't see any reason why<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> not. Could they ha<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ve both been ant-slurping spec<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ialists, perhaps tempering their diet with plant matter?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">w, to come to a conclusion is difficult, but after some thought, I believe that both of the above theo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ries are true to an extent. Pinacosaurus<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I bel<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ieve, was an<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mnivore with a long, pr<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ehensile tongue<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">qually adept at <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lapping up insects as <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it is at <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pulling at spiny vegetation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Duane Nash <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">uses <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the comparison <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">between Tarchia and the slot<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">h bear. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">looking at the sloth bear, despite it feeding a lot on termites<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> it</span> also<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> eats</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> plant matter (particularly fruit) and honey.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> So I actually think the sloth bear comparison is good - <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a specialized insect <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eater, but not so <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">special<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ized.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To conclude, Pinacosaurus and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tarchia <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">almost certainly had a long, prehensile tong<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ue, perfect for both feeding upon invertebrates and g<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rasping thorny plant<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, ta<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ke a moment to imagine these things in their natural habitat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - like miniature tanks, well armoured, trund<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ling across the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sand dunes, extending <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a long<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, purple tongue . . .</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that's an image that I like.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK94N2MfvcJhxY8DC9An53FngLXmQ1Uq66sb3hFZNGqH8yUP51hqB90yz4uVxd59HLy9aE0ms8mCssafKZERZNfX4hwtt0IWhum9cblIjgEz9yaT8sx14Zaud58Ehk5rKYU15hCLY9HLo/s1600/Pinacosaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK94N2MfvcJhxY8DC9An53FngLXmQ1Uq66sb3hFZNGqH8yUP51hqB90yz4uVxd59HLy9aE0ms8mCssafKZERZNfX4hwtt0IWhum9cblIjgEz9yaT8sx14Zaud58Ehk5rKYU15hCLY9HLo/s640/Pinacosaurus.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By the a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">uthor. An<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">atomic accuracy<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> not guaranteed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-14877059206317658602017-02-16T06:24:00.000-08:002017-02-19T10:32:36.291-08:00How Quickly Did Dinosaur Eggs Hatch - And What Are The Consequences?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Maiasaura_Nest_Model.001_-_Natural_History_Museum_of_London.JPG/1024px-Maiasaura_Nest_Model.001_-_Natural_History_Museum_of_London.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Maiasaura_Nest_Model.001_-_Natural_History_Museum_of_London.JPG/1024px-Maiasaura_Nest_Model.001_-_Natural_History_Museum_of_London.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By Drow male - Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4939486 </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some new research has revealed some interesting answers, on <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170102155018.htm" target="_blank">this article.</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Basically, the embryonic jaws of 2 species have been put through a CT scanner, then the teeth were closely examined for growth lines. These are kind of like tree rings, as the article says, and by counting them up, it is possible to see how the creature was developing. As these were embryos, their teeth were still being developed at this point, so each growth line was put down in a single day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, that's how they did it - now onto the findings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The 2 species of dinosaur that were examined were<i> Protoceratops</i>, a fairly well-known ceratopsian from Mongolia, and <i>Hypacrosaurus</i>, a much larger hadrosaurid of Alberta. Let's look at the statistics for both species, including the results:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Protoceratops</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>. </i>approx. 1.8 metres long and 0.6 metres high</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. egg weighed around 194 grams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. <b>took nearly 3 months to hatch</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Hypacrosaurus</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. approx. 9.1 metres long and weighing 4.0 tonnes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. egg weighed more than 4 kilograms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. <b>took 6 months to hatch</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, this is pretty interesting - I mean, 6 months is a heck of a long time to be hanging around looking after your eggs<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. And parental<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> care does seem to be <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">present in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">most hadrosaurids, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as we <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">know<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> thanks to the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">well-preserved nesting sites of <i>Maiasaura</i>. So, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">some speculations based on what we now know:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Looking after your eggs for 6 months is a long time. And when I say looking after, I don't mean incubation - tha<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t seems unlikely f<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or such a huge animal (i<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nstead, they probably kept them warm using <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rotten <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">vegetation)</span></span></span>.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> They wou<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ld, however<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, have been</span></span></span> keeping predators at bay <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and waiting until the chicks hatch t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">o look a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fter them.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> After all, these eg<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">gs are hanging arou<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nd for about <i>half a year</i>! <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the modern day, many predators mak<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e use of the fleeting <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">opp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ortunity to snatch an egg<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> from a nest. Bu<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t this isn't a fleeting opportunity.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It's more o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">f a seasonal <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bona<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nza<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - it w<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">uld attract predators <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">from all around to feast upon<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the eggs and ch<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">icks.* Therefore, some <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">kind of protection is neede<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to keep the nests safe<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ults would nee<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d to han<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">g around to<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> scare the egg thieves off.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is act<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ually qui<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">te interesting <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- that would hadrosaurid eggs were a sort of seasonal food source for variou<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s animals<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ort of like the annual salmon run<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in North America.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ho<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wever, it jus<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t isn't feasible for a parent to stay <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">guarding their nest for 6 months<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- and that's where the rest of the herd co<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mes in. Man<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y hadrosaurids were probably quite social animals, and so they may have swapp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ed guard duties. Instead of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ea<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ch parent guarding their own nest, one or two w<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ould <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">keep an eye on the whole nesting si<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">te, before having their duties relieved<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> by <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">other individuals.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Thi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s is just speculat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ion, but<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I think it seems quit<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">likely.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This way, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">by swapp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ing <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">roles, all <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of the adults g<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">et the oppor<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tunity to go of<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">f and<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">feed and drink, kno<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wing that the nest<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s are i<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n safe hands.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">isn't to say that<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">his technique would be fool<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">roof - doubtlessly many eggs and chicks would be predated.</span></span></span></span> Bu<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">his is the way life works in the wild - man<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y animal<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s lo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ose many individuals in their litter, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">even though t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hey work hard to k<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eep them safe. In fact, paleontologists have calculated that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for some species, such as <i>Maiasaura</i>, the mortality rate of the young would have been very high.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The preserved nesting sites of </span><i>Maiasaura</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">reveal something<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> else as well. Each nest is a raise<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d, cup-like mound, which seems to be added to each year as they go back to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have a new cluch of eggs<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - which <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">means that they would have used the same nesting si<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tes each year. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What does this tell us? W<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ell, if it takes <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">half a year <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for the eggs to hatch, and then so<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">me for the ch<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">icks <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to lea<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ve the nest, then it doesn't seem <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">like there was a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">whole lot of time for the adult<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s to move around. They would have h<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d practic<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ally no time at all - a few months<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, maybe - <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">befo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">re they were b<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ack at it again, mating<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, egg laying, etc. This suggests to me tha<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t they di<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">dn't move around a great deal<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, instead stayin<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">g in the<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> same area, not too far away from the nesting site.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The adults probabl<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y bro<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ught food <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">back to the nest for the vulnerable <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">young, until they were old enough to go and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">find it themselves. Also,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to make <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it eas<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ier to di<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">gest<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> for the small, weak young<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sters, t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he adults probably chewed it first <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to make it softer - maybe even <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">watered</span> it <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">down </span>with a secretion <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rather like crop milk. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From wh<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at we know of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">both <i>Maiasaura </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and <i>Hypacrosaurus </i>we can gues<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s that ma<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ny ot<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">her hadrosaurids had similar<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ly long<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> periods until hatching, and also exhibited similar <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">parental care.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One last thought - I've already done <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quite a bit of speculation in this po<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">st, but here<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'s a little bit more<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. The <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">concept of<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> a dinosaur - or <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">even a pterosaur - perform<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ing a cuckoo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-like behaviour<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, and laying their eggs in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the nest of another species, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is something that I have seen a few times in the recent All Yesterdays style of paleoart. But this is usually in pterosaurs or <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">theropods - what about hadrosaurids . . .</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/sites/www.cam.ac.uk/files/inner-images/cuckoo_egg_in_reed_warbler_nest._nick_davies_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://www.cam.ac.uk/sites/www.cam.ac.uk/files/inner-images/cuckoo_egg_in_reed_warbler_nest._nick_davies_resized.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Given that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">it seems that they prob<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ably put a lot of ef<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fort into <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">raising their youn<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">g<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, it wo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">uld make sense to have one or two species of lazy hadrosaurids, which sneakil<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">layed their eggs in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">their nests, for the young to be cared for by <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the other species. I<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> would be very surprised if such cuckoo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-like be<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">haviour was not pres<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ent in some species of dinosaurs, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> hadrosaurid seems as good as any<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-79055407128850253272017-02-15T09:31:00.001-08:002017-02-15T09:31:24.027-08:00Dinosaurs: How They Lived And Evolved - Book Review<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For Christmas, I got a variety of great zoology and paleontology books, but probably one of the best that I got is <i>Dinosaurs: How They Lived And Evolved</i>,
by Darren Naish and Paul Barrett. I sat down yesterday intending to
only read the first chapter or so, and ended up reading more than half
of the book.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First
of all, I've got to comment on the front cover. It's a great example of
why the saying, 'don't judge a book by its cover' is absolutely true!
Anyway, it doesn't really matter because the contents of the book itself
far make up for the <i>Giganotosaurus </i>on the front.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
first chapter is a good introduction, covering subjects such as the
history of non-avian dinosaur discoveries and what their Mesozoic world
was like. I particularly enjoyed the small section on the climate of
Triassic Pangaea, the super continent that would have been mostly
covered in desert. It made me think of how the organisms that lived in
these conditions must have been well-adapted to the arid climate, so
various fun speculations could be made on how they dealt with desert
life.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
information in the boxes explains things such as geological timescale,
and terms such as phylogenetic bracketing, etc. This brings me to the
text style in general, which I found very enjoyable. It isn't written in
a childish manner, far from it, but neither is it too complex for
someone like me to fully understand. Nor is it bogged down in too much
scientific jargon that it becomes weary to read, but the whole book
still feels very professional. It could be read by a
paleontologically-minded teenager like me, or an experienced
paleontologist.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
second chapter covers the dinosaur family tree, discussing each main
group and their defining features. The cladograms are quite enjoyable,
with little pictures of the different groups. There's lots of up-to-date
artwork, which helps to break up the text and makes the whole book even
more interesting.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
next chapter was about anatomy of non-avian dinosaurs, first talking
about bones, then muscles, and other subjects such as respiration and
digestion. The chapter concluded with an interesting outline of dinosaur
life appearance, and I was happy to see subjects such as dinosaur lips
and melanosomes in there.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
next chapter is probably my favourite, and of the most interest to me:
biology, ecology, and behaviour. I've got to admit, I got a bit excited
when I was reading this bit. There's so much great information gathered
in one place! First of all, dinosaur diet and feeding behaviour was
discussed. There's a lot of good information on what we can tell from
the teeth, both from the shape and appearance of them, but also from
microwear. Its a good place to start to build up on my ideas on sauropod
and theropod niche partitioning.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's
a surprisingly lengthy senction detailing non-avian dinosaur stomach
contents and coprolites. I was particularly interested to hear about the
wood found inside coprolites produced by <i>Maiasaura</i>. It makes me wonder if this was a regular food source, or one only used in particularly hard times.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's a large part of the chapter explaining various modes of dinosaur locomotion, from walking to swimming and gliding.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
next part that was of particular interest to me talked about parental
care and babies. Nests are discussed, as is the fascinating topic of
juvenile-only groups. The idea of the juveniles and adults holding
different niches is an interesting one, and I suppose it might have been
widespread in some groups, such as sauropods. The shorter babies would
probably have been feeding on a completely different food source from
the longer-necked adults.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A
section on non-avian dinosaur communities concluded that particular
chapter, discussing topics such as niche partitioning. Reconstructing
these Mesozoic ecosystems is probably the most interesting
paleontological subject for me, imagining these long-lost worlds in
life, how the different animals interacted with each other. Interesting
behaviours can be seen in modern-day animals like the hierachy between
vulture species at a carcass, and symbiosis between 2 organisms, but
sadly we'll never really be able to know about such things occurring in
prehistoric creatures. Though that does of course give you plenty of
room to speculate . . .</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
penultimate chapter discusses the origin of birds, then moves onto the
final chapter, titled 'the great extinction and beyond'. Unlike most
dinosaur books, it does not simply explain the extinction event that
wiped out the non-avian species, but then continues to discuss the
dinosaurs that didn't go extinct: birds.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Overall,
I was really impressed by this book. It was well set-out, easy to read,
professional, and covered the majority of paleontological subjects
surrounding non-avian dinosaurs. I would recommend it to anybody who has
an interest in paleontology, whether they're a beginner or a
fully-fledged paleontologist. </span></span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-29975937172512228882017-02-15T09:14:00.001-08:002017-02-15T09:14:18.626-08:00What to expect from Mesozoic Musings<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's been a while since I started this blog with my slightly ill though-out 'Tarbosaurus turkey' post. Well, I'm hoping to continue blogging here, hopefully with more frequent posts. Over the past year, I've been realising where my real area of interest lies: paleoeology. How did all these creatures fit together in their community? How did they all partition resources to survive? How did they behave? How did they adapt their envioroment and interact with other species? These are the kind of questions which fascinate me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, this is what to expect from Mesozoic musings from now on:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. paleoecology and speculative behavioural reconstructions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. possible appearances of various prehistoric species</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. new discoveries and my thougths on them</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In short, lots of speculation and ecology stuff! Also the occaisonal book review will pop up now and then.</span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-58876577553508605572017-02-07T09:17:00.000-08:002017-02-07T09:27:58.385-08:00Crazy Speculation - how far can we go?<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think modern paleontology and paleoart is really evolving, and it is increasingly speculative. This is definitely a good thing - we're seeing more and more paleoart that pushes the boundaries. It allows us to explore ideas that have previously never been considered, or if they have been, have been thought of as too outlandish. An example of this is sauropods bearing integument. While we don't have any fossil evidence of this, it wasn't so very long ago when we had no evidence for feathers on theropods. While I personally think that sauropods had little or no feathery integument, this does not mean that paleoart depicting this is 'bad'. On the contrary, I think that it's a good thing. Speculative paleoart - even crazy ones - makes you stop and think, and <b>it allows us to explore the boundaries of what is possible. </b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Modern paleoart is about exploration, I think, exploring ideas and theories and speculations, that may well be wrong - but perhaps striving for absolute accuracy is not right. Nothing will ever be 100% accurate, but speculation adds a certain intrigue and fun aspect to paleontology that particularly draws me to the subject. <b>It allows us to visualize ideas and see what might be possible.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which brings me to my topic - just how far can we go? How much speculation is too much? I think my answer to this is, we need more wild speculation! Paleontologists and paleoartists are increasingly allowing themselves to speculate more, but I think we could this even more. If we open the floodgates to wild ideas, then we may suddenly find ourselves realising that these concepts are not so wild - but actually surprisingly plausible looking at modern creatures.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let us, for a moment, look at modern day creatures which have unusual features - I'll stick to soft tissue, as this is where most of the speculation I am talking about is centered. There are countless examples of bizarre animals that would seem mundane without their strange features - yet look at their skeletons, and there is <b>scant evidence for their unusual external appearances.</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'll lab<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">el the photos, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the reason for which will become apparent <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">further down the p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ost.</span></span></span></span></span><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My first example is the star-nosed mole. Its snout bears bizarre appendages, rather like tiny, stubby tentacles. There are 22 of them, fleshy and sensitive, and filled with 25,000 sensory receptors, known as Eimer's organs. Without this feature, then the star-nosed mole would barely be of note - its rather like other similar mole species. Yet if you stripped away the flesh and left only the bones - or better yet, an incomplete fossil - then the chances of its bizarre nose appendages leaving any trace is very slim. <b>We would have no idea</b> that it had these organs, and would classify it as a rather regular mole.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqvwqnPqic5Kp4TQiD5RjqiYf_58udQJbAwHv0HAKpynnySeSM-AAt_4Jtzv8FXbJ6XqYS11acXpJ5J34_ju9Pu9prVlrdkd0zdMOom7wxdCc6QXXFgoX4KS6wF67m6lV3IcPo7sbCAc/s1600/Condylura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqvwqnPqic5Kp4TQiD5RjqiYf_58udQJbAwHv0HAKpynnySeSM-AAt_4Jtzv8FXbJ6XqYS11acXpJ5J34_ju9Pu9prVlrdkd0zdMOom7wxdCc6QXXFgoX4KS6wF67m6lV3IcPo7sbCAc/s400/Condylura.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is a selection of photos showing bizarre soft tissue that shows just how crazy animals can look. They don't give a monkey whether they look cool either . . .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8mEqzV8EnZ1nnnn64RMbn8zpyOh49g5VZoS7FOQWyfCBrIqTgXvaUk1BYQZ7vD_HAPKwQZmHvmqGIgRhM0zYSsWjykePjdbqiVokzsz8mryPXig5sD0o3RCy3YvzpmueaaSfwkVFI8hP/s1600/baboon-swelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8mEqzV8EnZ1nnnn64RMbn8zpyOh49g5VZoS7FOQWyfCBrIqTgXvaUk1BYQZ7vD_HAPKwQZmHvmqGIgRhM0zYSsWjykePjdbqiVokzsz8mryPXig5sD0o3RCy3YvzpmueaaSfwkVFI8hP/s1600/baboon-swelling.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Above you can see a female <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bab<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">oon</span></span>. To demonstrate their receptivity, their buttocks become massively swollen and red. </span></div>
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Sarcoramphus_papa_(K%C3%B6nigsgeier_-_King_Vulture)_-_Weltvogelpark_Walsrode_2013-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Sarcoramphus_papa_(K%C3%B6nigsgeier_-_King_Vulture)_-_Weltvogelpark_Walsrode_2013-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5</span> </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As can be easily seen in just these few examples, animals often look bizarre and sometimes unaesthetically pleasing. Bizarre features can and do exist in modern creatures, and I think that this is something that should be used more in paleoart. For example, picking prehistoric versions of the examples used above, here's some crazy speculations:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tentacle-like organs on the star-nosed mole got me thinking. It is rare to see such bizarre features on an animal in paleoart, but perhaps some species might have had similar things? One idea that I had, which may be slightly implausible, but isn't impossible - Spinosaurus having sensitive tendrils. Fossilized skulls show tiny nodes lining its jaws, which are similar to pressure receptors known as foramina in crocodiles. What if these nodes actually held small, multifunctional sense organs, like small tendrils, which could sense movement in the water around it (like a crocodile's foramina), but additionally pick up tastes in the water, allowing it to hone in on the exact location of its prey. This is just a quick and not very well developed idea.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/544a8422e4b08fa6e30a5a93/544c3e2ee4b00b572738cf29/544c4315e4b0001029023552/1414284054106/Spino+Skull+June+20+with+scalebar.jpg?format=1000w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/544a8422e4b08fa6e30a5a93/544c3e2ee4b00b572738cf29/544c4315e4b0001029023552/1414284054106/Spino+Skull+June+20+with+scalebar.jpg?format=1000w" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The foramina can be seen on the skull as small dots lining the jaws. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is not so hard to imagine some dinosaur species using signals to show their receptivity to mating. For ones with a good sense of smell, I believe scents may have been used - I'll look into that some more in an other post. Some probably had set times of the year when mating would have taken place, rather than a sporadic reproduction, in which case some kind of signal would be required to show the readiness to mate. Some species may have shown this visually with swellings or colour changes in facial ornamentation.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Three</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The king vulture shown here has a lot of colourful facial display structures. As these take around 4 years to fully develop, and it is not until 4-5 years of age that they become sexually receptive, it seems quite likely that it demonstrates sexual maturity. I think that a lot of non-avian dinosaurs had such facial ornamentation, in the form of fleshy erectile tissue, wattles, carunculations, and other more bizarre structures that I may delve into at a later dtae. I'll post a lot more information in later posts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Four and Five <b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The 4th picture shows a Bulwer's pheasant, the 5th a Temmink's tragopan. Both show prominent erectile tissue in the males, which can be expanded during mating displays, but then can retract so as to not get in the way during everyday life. Such tissue may have been in several species of dinosaurs, as I really think such avian display structures are underused in paleoart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So there, some food for thought. Paleoart can push the boundaries, and perhaps it could do so to a greater extent then it already does. One day I would very much like to see a tendril-faced Spinosaurus, or a hadrosaur with erectile display structures. </span></div>
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Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-84421272736831965672016-07-19T05:33:00.000-07:002016-07-19T05:33:07.567-07:00My review of Recreating an Age of Reptiles by Mark Witton<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was my birthday last Friday, and the only things on my birthday list were books, books, and more books! The one that I was really looking forward too, though, was Mark Witton's new book, <i>Recreating An Age of Reptiles</i>. It did not disappoint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This book is a nice mixture of paleoart and text, which describes his thought processes behind that particular art piece, and information on the creatures depicted. I personally very much like this style, as I like hearing about why people have constructed an extinct species a certain way. It means that this book is not only beautiful and satisfying to look at, but informative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mark Witton is my favourite paleoartist, as his art has a style which I particularly like, and he depicts prehistoric animals like real creatures, doing real things like sleeping, eating, displaying, or just hanging<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">,</span> out not really doing anything in particular (as you will find many present day creatures spending most of their time doing). Another thing th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">like</span></span> is that Mark Witton is very funny! His previous book, <i>Pterosaurs</i> (which is brilliant), is just the right mixture of informative and scientific, but also humorous in places<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. <i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Recreating an Age<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of Reptiles </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">was <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">just as funny,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> right <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">up <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to the first bit askin<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">g people not to steal his art.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mr Witton's new book is organised into chapters such as 'Sauropods: the (second) best animals'. Subjects include tunneling animals, river creatures, and Mesozoic mammals. He devotes <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">several large chapters</span> to pterosaurs, including an art piece featuring <i>Cuspicephalus</i> sheltering from the wind behind vegetation on a mud flat, which I particularly like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some of the art in this book has previously been released in his other book, <i>Pterosaurs</i>, and on his blog, but much of it he has polished up to meet his current standard of excellency.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
this book, Mr Witton covers subjects which are generally ignored in
paleontology: for example, he devotes one chapter to the burrowing
animals of the Mesozoic, which I found particularly interesting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
the final chapter of the book, Mark Witton shows 2 art pieces featuring
out-dated reconstructions of prehistoric animals. These are not old
pieces of art<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">: h</span>e has done them himself, and they featur<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e</span> <i>Iguanodon</i>, <i>Megalosaurus</i>,
and some pterosaurs. I thought this was a nice touch, and indeed I have
thought about such things before. I once had the idea for a field guide
style book featuring outdated reconstructions of prehistoric life, but
done in a more modern artistic way. I find old interpretations of
extinct animals to be quite interesting, and sometimes even amusing
(take the old theory that <i>Stegosaurus</i> used its plates to glide off cliffs!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Above you can see some of m<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y favourite art pieces from the book.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When pl<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">anning this review, I did think t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hat I w<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ould put <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">some constructive criticism in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">here. However, now it c<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">omes to it, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I c<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">annot think of anything to criticise. I would have perhaps liked a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">few more marine animals, though th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is is <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">more of a personal p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">reference, and<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> even <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mark W<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">itton did ad<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mit that h<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e ha<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s never cove<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">red m<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y marine animals in his art before. He does<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, however, say<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that he is hoping to change this <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sometime in the futur<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, well do<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ne to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mr Witton for crea<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ting such a beautiful and interesting book. I eagerly await <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wh<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at </span></span></span></span>his next big plans are<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. . .</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-33837877557754557702016-05-26T09:37:00.001-07:002017-02-20T05:16:50.308-08:00Tarbosaurus the giant turkey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ejjL7jdO536zyio1SGV326sLzzUqJ1MMD1uaxAZN41-DI14PnTZMz9w6RJwFY_nPoVhLKyLNRLJ3Wfjvj2_bbXLS_1AMmCWxGIsXRLgkNTrZr2gFj3GmOzLCZ9NC04g0HzN8kuf6eGs/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ejjL7jdO536zyio1SGV326sLzzUqJ1MMD1uaxAZN41-DI14PnTZMz9w6RJwFY_nPoVhLKyLNRLJ3Wfjvj2_bbXLS_1AMmCWxGIsXRLgkNTrZr2gFj3GmOzLCZ9NC04g0HzN8kuf6eGs/s320/IMG_1036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Tarbosaurus</i> is best known for being a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, but what is not so well known is that<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> it is possible</span> that it had a wattle! Or at least something very much like it. I cou<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ldn't find the original paper on th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e discovery, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">but there have been several mentions on various sources <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">about the wattle.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Before we go into all that, first let's take a quick look at the genus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB5sT92eVfFiDUMXP1WBxudH1altJsxW7UeqfN9KoQUkBNN2QmWHjiRNtJAo3OQIKvB9yXBLgj25qUrzKs79VGhTFjY07Yza5etReo23e_Pq3XrOU-lGNnhOxtKrTTdfP3NRdMXcjYp0/s1600/Tarbosaurus-skeleton-660x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB5sT92eVfFiDUMXP1WBxudH1altJsxW7UeqfN9KoQUkBNN2QmWHjiRNtJAo3OQIKvB9yXBLgj25qUrzKs79VGhTFjY07Yza5etReo23e_Pq3XrOU-lGNnhOxtKrTTdfP3NRdMXcjYp0/s640/Tarbosaurus-skeleton-660x350.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A skeletal reconstruction of Tarbosaurus</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tarbosaurus grew up to 12 metres long (39 feet), and was nearly or just about comparable in size to its close relative, Tyrannosaurus. Its skull was more than 1.3 metres long (4.3 feet), and from fossil evidence, we know that it was adapted <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for</span> withstanding great stress as it bit down. It lived around 70 million year ago, during the Late Cretaceous, and was found primarily in Mongolia. At the time, this area was a tropical, humid floodplain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now down to the interesting bit. There has been one case of a preserved structure on the dinosaur's chin<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>that looks like a wattl<span style="font-size: small;">e.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This diagram shows where a wattle is and what it looks like. Tarbosaurus p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ossibly</span> had a similar wattle to this turkey.</i> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why would a 13 metre long predator need a wattle? Well, it could have been for several reasons.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Reason 1: Attracting a Mate</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If we look at modern day birds, why do they have wattles? This is obviously excluding those which have been selectively bred to have a large wattle.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the most part, modern birds use their wattles to impress a mate. The larger the wattle, the healthier it is and the higher its testosterone levels, indicating to the female how healthy he is.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is possible that Tarbosaurus also used its wattle during a courtship ritual - possibly expanding it, or filling it with blood to make it go bright red.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Reason 2: Temperature Regulation</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chickens use their wattles to cool themselves down. They are filled with blood vessels, so as the blood is pumped into the wattle, it is cooled close to the skin, then pumped back into the body, now cooler. In its tropical, hot envioroment, it is possible that Tarbosaurus used a similar system. <u>Edit:</u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> though obviously since it has a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">much larger body than a chicken, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the system would not be so efficient and e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">asy<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. However, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">m<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">aybe it could have been e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">xpanded <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">when it needed to cool <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">down, to increase the surface area?<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course, looking at elephants and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the size of their ears<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Asian elephants probably being a better <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">compa<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rison</span> than African ele<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">phants, g<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">iven the habitats</span>)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">which they do use <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for cooling purposes, it does not seem so unlikely t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hat Tarbosaurus <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">did a similar thing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b>But perhaps it wasn't a wattle at all, but instead a throat pouch, akin to that of a pelican?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNF54VqomFdoFJiyFsTBb2dvNemBlH0ZjcYVLRqfoBuNrdYgBsv_7MQldbWI3jcpA77k7H1XQ_4Z8jwIOpjA8HcnROOW3APebHqdtmjZOw1SwFBMGZ6PIVdEDO2OCTyLcrEQ3Q-ptu_1U/s1600/Pelican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNF54VqomFdoFJiyFsTBb2dvNemBlH0ZjcYVLRqfoBuNrdYgBsv_7MQldbWI3jcpA77k7H1XQ_4Z8jwIOpjA8HcnROOW3APebHqdtmjZOw1SwFBMGZ6PIVdEDO2OCTyLcrEQ3Q-ptu_1U/s400/Pelican.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> A pelican displays its throat pouch- is it possible that Tarbosaurus had something similar?</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thought is an intruiging one, but to be honest, I am doubtful. Let's take a look at the reasons.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1: Catching Prey</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pelicans dip their heads into the water, scooping fish up in their pouch - but this method of food capture wouldn't be possible for the terrestrial Tarbosaurus, which most likely ate large animals like sauropods. It certainly wouldn't be scooping one of t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hose</span> up in a throat pouch!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2: Food Storage</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, maybe Tarbosaurus stored chunks of meat in its throat pouch for later. In the tropical climate and the dampness of the throat pouch, the meat would quickly fester, though - so if it did have a throat pouch and it<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>used it for food storage, it wouldn't be able to keep food in there for very long. Besides, why would it need to store food for later? It's the dominant predator, it can just hang around and guard its meal until it's ready to eat again.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My conclusion:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">think that</span> Tarbosaurus had a wattle, not a throat pouch, and that it was brightly coloured, used for attracting a mate, as it is the most obvious reason. Its wattle was probably most obvious in adult males<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Maybe it</span> could be expanded to impress a potential mate, the size of the wattle showing the male's strength<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">? And perhaps it was full of blood vessels, making the wattle a sort of s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">elf<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-cooli<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ng device too, though how effi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">cient this would be with such a large animal compared to a small wattle<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, is debatable.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a speculative touch, perhaps Tarbosaurus's face was colourfully carunculated and covered in fleshy folds, like the turkey? This would be another aspect to impress a mate - the size and vibrancy of the colour would indicate health. Also, if we look at modern-day birds which engage in face-biting behaviours, many of them have similarly carunculated faces. This is, as Duane Nash explains on his blog <a href="http://antediluviansalad.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/what-do-face-biting-birds-including.html">Antediluvian Salad</a>, to protect its face and eyes. To quote him:</span></span><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"What I am saying is that the convergence of a heavily adorned, wattled,
dewlapped, caruncled, and combed cervical adornment in these three
highly combative modern aves should not be glossed over. Usually
interpreted as sexo-social signaling devices - and I am not disputing
this adaptation - I think that they offer another, more functional
usage. That is that in combat they offer up a convenient - and brightly
colored - choice target to get bit upon. Why would a combative animal
have such evolutionary pressure to offer up a choice morsel to get bit
upon? Because losing a chunk of skin is preferable to losing an
eyeball!! Feathers would be less than ideal because once plucked out
little defense is left."</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I strongly agree with him on this notion. And, to get to the meat of the story, theropod dinosaurs fought, and we know that they attacked each other's heads from the scars left on the skulls. They definitely would have benefitted from the carunculations Duane describes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Therefore, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">maybe</span> Tarbosaurus not only had a wattle, but a carunculated, warty face.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> If all of this was the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">case, then I would say that the wat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">tle would p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">robably be red - due to the large amount of blood vessels there, and also because it seems to be a fairly attractiv<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e colour to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">female<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> birds<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, so perhaps it w<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as the same <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for dinosaurs.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span>I would have thought that the carunculated face was either the same colour, or a contrasting colour such as blue, or both. Re<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d seems to be a dominant col<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">our amongst carunculations on face-biting birds, d<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rawing the enem<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">y's <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">attention to the skin instead of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mo<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">re vulnerable areas. It seems likely t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hat if Tarbosaurus did have such carunculations, it had a similar colouration.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To finish off, I drew <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">how I imagine Tarbosaurus could have l<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ooked<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">:</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e individual I have drawn here is a male<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, which is <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">why it<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> looks so flamboyant. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">watt<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">le is swollen and red<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, and h<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">i<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s carunculated face is<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> also red, althoug<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">h<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> there is blue <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">around his nose and li<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ps. I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">am as to yet uncertain whether I a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">gree</span> o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">n the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'theropod<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">had-lips' theory <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- I<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> need to do <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">more res<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">earch before I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">will decide - but I decided to depict my Tarbosaurus with lips <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hiding his teeth. In <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">some areas, his fat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">carunculated <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lips hang down in<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> lumps. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">drew a fe<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">w bristle<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-like prot<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">o-feathers on his neck and sprinked over his ey<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ebrows, nose, chin, and wattle.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of co<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">urse, I - nor anybody<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> else -<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> can be certain<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> on this.</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unf<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ortunately soft tissue such as wattles are extre<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mely rarely preser<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ved - so turkey-Tarbosaurus could have been st<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rutting around Mongolia, and we'll ne<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ver find any more evidence of it. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">However, I really ho<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pe that we find more evidence<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">f wattle<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s, but e<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ven if we don't<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, it's <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">good fun to speculate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, there's my theory on Tarbosaurus. That's all for now, and I hope that you enjoyed.</span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-380419317056102412.post-54408842335041433722016-05-26T08:13:00.000-07:002016-05-26T08:13:21.065-07:00First Post<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, as those of you who view my other blogs and have looked at my profile will know, my interests are not only living wildlife, but those that sadly no longer exist. Keeping that in mind, I decided to make a new blog on which I can post my paleontological thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are a few things that you can expect from Mesozoic Musings:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1: it won't all be Mesozoic (Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous) related stuff - there will also be a fair amount of other paleontology stuff from a variety of time periods. I just chose that title because I thought it sounded cool!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2: I will occaisonally post my paleontology-related art here. My art skills are not bad, but I am afraid that accurately depicting animals that once existed I find more difficult - I am better at drawing animals that exist only in my imagination. However, I will sometimes post my best efforts here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3: sometimes I will post recent paleontological findings that I find particulary interesting, and link to blogs, posts, and articles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4: my main reason for making this blog is for it to be somewhere for me to put my personal theories. So you can expect some of my ideas regarding prehistoric animals here, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, that's all for now - bye! </span>Beetle Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06313879056602866312noreply@blogger.com0