28 Days Of Dinosauria - 18

[swordznsorcery]

Day 18: Psittacosaurus is adorable. Not sure it needs a lot more saying about it than that! The name means "parrot lizard", although it didn't look especially parroty, if we're honest. From the early Cretaceous (around 125 million years ago, in Asia), it was quite small, and decidedly beaky, although its "beak" contained teeth. One interesting thing about Psittacosaurus is how much variation there is within the genus. There are currently some ten species known, all exhibiting an assortment of adaptations, presumably to suit particular locations and situations. Lots of specimens have been recovered, some in such good condition that it's been possible to analyse them at the microscopic level, and see from the melanosomes roughly what colour Psittacosaurus would have been.

Adding to its cuteness (or oddness, depending on your point of view) is the big tuft of bristly projections on its nether quarters, which makes it look a bit like it had a punk hairstyle, but on the base of its tail. Presumably this was used for display, or possibly to scare off predators. Or both.

Picture here.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, that is a great and adorable dinosaur, you're right!

[swordznsorcery]

It's always nice to be right about something. ;)

[corvidology]

Honestly it looks like it lost a fight with a porcupine. :D

[swordznsorcery]

Evolution. Drunk for four billion years and counting.

[dimity_blue]

Oh, dear! He looks a bit gormless! It's good that people get to know so much about him though.

[swordznsorcery]

It's in wonderful contrast to the popular image of dinosaurs as terrifying or majestic. I think that's one of the reasons why I like it. It really does look daft.