28 Days Of Dinosauria - 14

[swordznsorcery]

Day 14: Knowledge and discovery are a complicated business. When I was a kid, to underline the fact that the flying reptiles (Pterodactylus antiquus, etc), and the marine reptiles (Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus, etc) are not dinosaurs, there used to be a mantra: Dinosaurs walk. They don't fly, and they don't swim. Then we found out that actually yes, they did (and do!) fly. And then we found out that they swam as well. Spinosaurus aegyptiacus is the most famous swimming dinosaur, although its British cousin Baryonyx has been known about for longer, but wasn't properly associated with a semi-aquatic lifestyle until later. Spinosaurus aegypticus (Egypt, c. 100 million years ago) was an absolutely massive creature with a sail on its back, and although a theropod (traditionally bipedal), it may have preferred a semi-quadrupedal gait on land, with its mass and balance better suited for the water. It doesn't seem to have been an obligate piscivore, however, so can't have been too ungainly on dry land. Basically it would be nice to go and have a look, please.

There's a handy size guide for big theropod predators here. Why the silly sod at the front is waving, I have no idea. Run, you bloody idiot!

Comments

[corvidology]

That's the idiot we trip up so the rest of us can get away...

[swordznsorcery]

That's good thinking. I shall have to make sure you're with me next time I get chased by giant dinosaurs.

[pedanther]

I am amused that the smallest of the dinosaurs on the chart is apparently the Fragile Allosaurus.

[swordznsorcery]

:)

So called because it was the first dinosaur found with hollow sections in some of its bones (most likely containing air sacs in life, a common feature of extant birds, which helps makes the bones lighter - it's one of the ways in which dinosaurs managed to grow so big, yet not be massively heavy). It does make the bones weaker than they might otherwise be, but it helps a big creature move fast, just as it helps a smaller one take flight. It also improves respiration, which is also a help when you're huge (and when you're flying).

[dimity_blue]

The Tyrannosaurous Rex is one of the *smaller* of that group!

"Run, you bloody idiot!" is excellent advice.

[swordznsorcery]

Smaller, but very likely stronger. Its head was very, very powerful. Sort of like how a labrador might be bigger than a rottweiler, but the rottweiler has tremendous strength in its body and jaws. So far there's no reason for T. rex to lose its "tyrant king" crown.

The waving idiot amuses me. He reminds me of some of the people you read about who come a cropper trying to take insane selfies. Just. Run. :D