28 Days Of Dinosauria - 9

[swordznsorcery]

Day 09: Tarbosaurus bataar (The Asian T. rex) was slightly smaller than its North American cousin (from current fossil evidence), but just as formidable. It was another of the later dinosaurs, living around 70 million years ago, and some argue that it should be called Tyrannosaurus bataar, given the similarity between it and T. rex. At the moment, Tarbosaurus is holding its own though, as there are enough differences between them to make it appear that both species evolved to suit different environments, and probably slightly different prey. Which I'm glad about, as Tarbosaurus means "alarming lizard", which amuses me, and I should be sorry to lose the name.

Comments

[howsmyenglish]

How do you decide which dinosaur to write about each day?

[swordznsorcery]

I just think about which dinosaurs I especially like, or find particularly interesting for some reason.

[howsmyenglish]

And there are at least 28 of them! *big eyes*
But, really, I mean it, it's soooo cool! :D

[swordznsorcery]

There are hundred and hundreds of different species of dinosaur. More are discovered every year!

[howsmyenglish]

I meant - at least 28 of the ones that you particularly like;) But this is very impressive, too :)

[dimity_blue]

"Alarming lizard" is a great name for a dinosaur.

[swordznsorcery]

It is, isn't it. Some of them do have great names. Some of them... not so much! Tyrannosaurus rex was originally named Manospondylus gigas (giant porous vertebra). In zoological naming convention, technically that should be its name. Doesn't have quite the same ring!

[dimity_blue]

That is a truly terrible name! Thank goodness they changed it.