2008 | Everything Dinosaur Blog

14 06, 2008

Real Life “Jurassic Park” not too Far Away

By Mike|2022-11-25T08:40:45+00:00June 14th, 2008|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, TV Reviews|0 Comments

TV Documentary Explores Dinosaur Genome

A TV programme being shown for the first time in the UK (Discovery Channel over the weekend) aims to demonstrate steps taken by scientists to bring Dinosaurs back to life. The programme to be shown on the Discovery Channel is entitled, “Dinosaurs: Return to Life”; highlights the work done to date to explore and identify the DNA signature of Dinosauria.

“Jurassic Park”

A team of scientists from Montana State University, a part of the Western USA with geology dating form the Age of Reptiles, aim to unlock the secrets of the dinosaur genetic code and if they are ultimately successful this could lead to the creation of dinosaurs once again. The Jurassic Park, of the Michael Crichton novel would become a reality. The progress the team have made on this remarkable project will be revealed in the TV documentary, receiving its premier in the UK. The question is posed; will scientists be able to reverse an extinction and ever be able to resurrect a dinosaur?

For Jack Horner, a professor of palaeontology at Montana State University and one of the consultants on the Jurassic Park films, the answer is a definite yes.

Professor Horner commented: “Of course we can bring them back to life. Their ancestral DNA is still present. The science is there. I don’t think there are any barriers, other than the philosophical.”

As genetic research has developed over the last twenty years or so, there have been numerous attempts to unravel the genetic make-up of a number of organisms. Professor Raul Cano, professor of microbiology at California Polytechnic State University, attempted to extract DNA from the preserved remains of insects trapped in amber. The Californian team claimed that they had extracted strands of DNA from a 40 million year old bee. In a similar programme of research at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, a group of scientists claimed that they had extracted the DNA from a fossilised termite.

Mammoth DNA

However, the initial results could not be replicated and it is now thought that the samples had been contaminated with modern DNA. Attempts have been made to recover genetic material from frozen Siberian Mammoths and from fossil Neanderthal bones, but to resurrect a dinosaur, scientists will need to be able to recover DNA from a fossil of an animal at least 65 million years old.

Many scientists believe that DNA being an organic substance would not be able to last 10,000 years under ideal preservation conditions, so finding valid dinosaur DNA would be impossible. However, both American and Russian teams claim that they have discovered fossils that have permitted the extraction of dinosaur proteins. This could lead to a breakthrough in this form of genetic research. The Russian team claim to have extracted proteins from a ceratopsian (horned dinosaur) and identified it to be similar in structure to the DNA of an ostrich. This would be somewhat expected as birds are thought to be close relatives of dinosaurs. Indeed, some palaeontologists have speculated that the Dinosauria clade should be re-classified along avian and non-avian forms.

Work by Hans Larsson, a palaeontologist at McGill University in Canada, has begun to unravel the links between the birds and dinosaurs. He conducted an experiment in November 2007 into the evolution from the long tail of dinosaurs into the short, stubby tails of birds. Advanced birds, such as the ornithothoraces and the modern neornithes have a much reduced tail structure. This is called the pygostyle and it consists of the last five tail vertebrae fused together into a plate of bone. The anatomy of the tail is one of the diagnostic characteristics that scientists use to differentiate between birds and maniraptoran dinosaurs such as Velociraptor. If a tail is found to contain less than 25 caudal vertebrae then this feature is used to help classify this organism as a bird.

Archaeopteryx for example had this shortened tail and so it is classified with the Aves clade.

A Picture of Archaeopteryx (Ancient Wing)

Archaeopteryx model

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture of Archaeopteryx is a 1:5 scale model from the Museum Line range and other dinosaur models: Bullyland Museum Line Models.

Working with chicken embryos that were no more than 48-hours old, the McGill University team discovered that there were 16 vertebrae developing in the embryonic spine, effectively evidence of a reptilian tail. As the embryo developed the “tail” became shorter and shorter, until the young bird hatched with just the five vertebrae of a modern bird (neornithes).

Larsson and his team claim that this research indicates that the blueprint for a dinosaur remains dormant within the genetic make-up of birds. Taking their study further, the team have hatched mutant chicks with three extra vertebrae, providing evidence that they have been able to partially switch back on dormant genetic processes.

A group of researchers from the University of Wisconsin have also been attempting to manipulate the genome of chickens, not an easy task when it is considered that chickens have 78 chromosomes compared to just 46 in humans. Although the number of chromosomes does not seem to be related to the complexity of the organism, it is more directly related to the time a species has existed, with older species accumulating more chromosomes.

This American team attempted to turn on the processes for constructing teeth within the beaks of chickens. Early birds had teeth, but just like their long tails, they evolved toothless beaks in order to lose weight so that this would assist with flight. The team have reported some success, with embryos producing a form of dentition similar to the teeth of embryonic alligators, another indication of the close relationship between crocodilians, Aves and Dinosauria.

Professor Horner and his fellow scientists have speculated that within 100 years the knowledge and the techniques will be available to produce a dinosaur from a bird embryo – a sort of deconstructing one advanced theropod to produce a dinosaur.

Whether or not this is the right ethical approach has yet to be debated, after all, look what happened in the Jurassic Park movie!

13 06, 2008

Happy Birthday Diplodocus – A Very Special Dinosaur

By Mike|2024-04-12T19:19:50+01:00June 13th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

The 130th Anniversary of the Naming of Diplodocus

Diplodocus one of the best known of all the dinosaurs, a regular entry in the annual Everything Dinosaur survey of children’s most popular prehistoric animals, was named in 1878. This year marks the 130th anniversary of the naming of this long-necked sauropod. A number of species of Diplodocus are now recognised, indeed recently the single specimen of the huge Seismosaurus has been reclassified by some palaeontologists as a Diplodocus (D. hallorum).

To read more about this: The Demise of Seismosaurus.

Diplodocus

Diplodocus means “double beam”, the name is derived from the unusual shape of the bones on the underside of the tail. These bones, called chevrons, in most dinosaurs are simple V-shaped structures, but with Diplodocus the chevrons are striking and unusual. They are shaped like side-on letter Ts, projecting both forwards and to the rear, as to their precise function, this remains unclear. However, scientists now believe that Diplodocus held its tail straight out behind it, lifted off the ground.

Diplodocus owes much of its fame to the 19th century American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. He funded a number of expeditions to collect dinosaur fossils in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was one of the principals behind the funding of the Natural History museum of Pittsburgh, named the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in his honour. When an almost complete skeleton of a Diplodocus was unearthed in the USA, he commissioned 11 casts of the massive skeleton and donated them to museums all over the world – including the Natural History Museum in London.

Services to Science

This species of Diplodocus – D. carnegii was named in recognition of Mr Carnegie’s services to science. In the late 1980’s new studies into diplodocid anatomy concluded that the long tail was held off the ground. This rethink over the Diplodocus stance and posture led to a revision in museum displays. The graceful 87½ feet long skeleton had to be reconstructed, depicting the tail raised off the ground. This work was undertaken in 1994. The Carnegie Diplodocus dominates the main entrance and hallway of the Natural History museum.

Further Diplodocus finds from the Western USA led American palaeontologist Steven Czerkas to propose that there may have been a row of spines running down the back and tail of Diplodocus, but this theory is controversial.

This explains one of the dilemmas facing model makers when they come to reconstruct Diplodocus. Some manufacturers have chosen to produce a diplodocid with spines, such as the Natural History Museum model (seen below).

Natural History Museum Diplodocus

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

In this model, Diplodocus is depicted with spines running from over the sacral vertebrae down to the tip of the tail. The animal’s colours have been inspired by elephantine colouration, dark, mottled greys.

To view the model: Natural History Museum Dinosaur Models.

Diplodocus carnegii

In contrast, the American company Safari, took a very different approach. In their larger 1:30 scale model of Diplodocus, introduced this year, partly to mark the anniversary of the naming of this Dinosaur, the animal is depicted without spines.

Safari Carnegie Diplodocus

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This particular model of a Diplodocus has been coloured differently in contrast to the British influenced and designed diplodocid. The head area has been given a flash of blue, perhaps indicating that the head and neck could have been used to send signals to other animals within the herd.

To view Safari Ltd model range: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World.

12 06, 2008

Potential New Dinosaur Species from British Columbia

By Mike|2022-11-25T08:16:23+00:00June 12th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Potential New Dinosaur Discovered in British Columbia

Most people imagine that new species of dinosaur are discovered in some remote, desolate part of the world. Indeed, this is often the case, excavations in the outback of Australia, up mountains in Antarctica and the deserts of China have all yielded evidence of dinosaurs new to science. Sometimes a new, as yet undescribed dinosaur can be literally under the noses of the scientists, yet can go unnoticed.

A previously unknown dinosaur may have been discovered after a set of fossilised bones in storage at the Royal British Columbia Museum were re-examined by a group of palaeontologists.

The group of just seven bones, believed to represent a single individual were discovered in northern British Columbia in 1971, but they have only recently been studied in detail and the conclusion drawn is that these bones represent an unknown species.

The fossils were found by geologist Kenny Flyborg Larsen, searching for uranium deposits near the confluence of Birdflat Creek and the Sustut river, north-east of the small town of Terrace in British Columbia. An area more associated with fine fishing than with dinosaur discoveries. The partial skeleton is believed to be approximately 70 million years old (Maastrichtian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous), although more precise dating cannot be made as no record of the exact location of the discovery exists so the sediments in which they were deposited are not known.

Larsen kept the fossils until 2004, deciding to donate them to Dalhousie University’s Earth Sciences department. The fossils were moved to the Royal British Columbia Museum in 2006. This gave University of Alberta palaeontologist Victoria Arbour and her co-author of the paper on these fossilised bones, Milton Graves, a scientist from Dalhousie University the chance to study them. The authors conclude in their findings published in the latest edition of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, that these bones belonged to as yet undescribed bird-hipped dinosaur, an ornithischian dinosaur.

Commenting on her research, Victoria stated:

“There are similarities with two other kinds of dinosaurs, although there’s also an arm bone we’ve never seen before. The Sustut dinosaur may be a new species, but we won’t know for sure until more fossils can be found. It’s very distinct from other dinosaurs that were found at the same time in southern Alberta.”

University of Alberta Palaeontologist Victoria Arbour Prepares the Fossils

Picture credit: University of Alberta Handout

She hopes to lead an expedition to the discovery site in search of more evidence.

Other dinosaur finds have been made in British Columbia. in the past three decades, but the area is not as famous for Late Cretaceous dinosaurs as the neighbouring state of Alberta. However, there may be many more exciting dinosaurs awaiting discovery in the rugged country of British Columbia. A number of trace fossils (footprints) of dinosaurs have been discovered at a number of sites in the state but the the belated documenting of the 1971 find could make these fossil bones the first dinosaur body fossil ever discovered in British Columbia, the authors note.

In a statement released by the University of Alberta, the seven bones consisting of leg material, arm, toe and possible skull bones resemble bones from a small, bipedal, herbivore. For the moment, these remains have been classified as ornithischian, the same Order as the horned dinosaurs such as Torosaurus and Triceratops and the hadrosaurs such as Edmontosaurus.

Safari Ltd have a variety of ornithischian dinosaur models in their range: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

The researchers have tentatively named this British Columbian dinosaur Cerapoda incertae sedis, a nomen nudum, as the authors comment that the name may be altered “pending the discovery of additional diagnostic material.”

A nomen nudum is a name given to an organism by scientists that has not yet formally been described and for which no holotype (a specimen upon which the first description of the organism is based), has been formerly designated.

So new species of dinosaur can come to light when examining the fossils already found and stored within museums and other institutions. The British Columbia case is not unusual, a number of new exciting discoveries have been made when fossils have been re-examined. For example, the discovery of a new type of long-necked dinosaur (Sauropod) when fossil vertebrae were studied in detail at the Natural History Museum in London.

To read about the London discovery: Where is the best place to find a new Dinosaur? In a museum collection!

11 06, 2008

Rare Australian Dinosaur Bone Questions Accepted Theory on Break-up of Gondwana

By Mike|2024-04-12T19:20:31+01:00June 11th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Geology, Main Page|0 Comments

Dinosaur Discovery “Knocks” Continental Drift

A new interpretation of a fossilised arm bone of an Australian dinosaur has brought into focus the on-going debate about the break up of the southern super-continent Gondwanaland.

In a paper published in the scientific journal “The Proceedings of the Royal Society”, Nathan Smith of the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, argues that a single fossilised dinosaur bone found in Australia links this country to South America. Dating of the fossil indicates that Australia may have still been connected to the rest of the southern super-continent of Gondwanaland much later in the Cretaceous than first thought.

Gondwana

Conventional scientific theory states that the land mass in the southern hemisphere, known as Gondwana or Gondwanaland began to break up during the Cretaceous period. The land that was to form South America, Africa, India, Antarctica and Australia began to split apart under the impact of continental plate forces.

Australia remained attached to Antarctica until approximately 95 million years ago, until the start of the formation of the south-east Indian ridge (a mid-ocean spreading ridge), began to tear these two landmasses apart. As new ocean floor was created at this ridge, Australia was gradually separated from other areas of land and pushed northwards, towards its present position.

However, in the Field Museum study, a single bone, identified as coming from a dinosaur called a Megaraptor (the name means “big thief”), questions the accepted theory on the timing of the break up of Gondwana. If the interpretation by the Chicago team is validated, this sheds new light on the origin of Australian dinosaurs and may indicate that land bridges existed between Australia and other parts of the splintering southern continent.

Examining Arm Bones

The single bone, an ulna (one of two bones in the forearm) has been dated to approximately 110 million years ago, it shows a striking similarity to the ulna of a Megaraptor, a large carnivorous dinosaur known exclusively from South America.

This study has suggested that Australia remained connected to the rest of Gondwanaland far later than originally thought and may help explain the diverse fauna and flora of Australia in the Late Cretaceous.

Commenting on his paper, Smith stated: “It doesn’t rewrite the biogeographic history of the early Cretaceous in Australia, but it adds an important well-constrained data point showing a South American connection”.

The unnamed Australian fossil is about 50% of the size of the corresponding bone in Megaraptor fossils, unearthed in Argentina, but it is not clear if the animal was a juvenile or an adult of a smaller related species. Such ontogenic information is difficult to infer from a single fossil bone. The fossil has been dated to approximately 110 million years ago (Albian faunal stage), the fossils of Megaraptor from Argentina are dated to the Cenemanian faunal stage, some 20 million years later than the Australian fossil.

The CollectA Australovenator dinosaur model.

The CollectA Australovenator replica.

The picture above shows a CollectA Australovenator replica, an animal that may have been part of the Megaraptora clade of theropod dinosaurs.

To view the CollectA prehistoric animal model range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Range.

Australian Dinosaur Bone

Professor Pat Vickers-Rich of Monash University, Victoria, casts doubts upon the Chicago study. Professor Vickers-Rich has worked extensively on the Dinosaur fossils found at the famous Dinosaur Cove and East Gippsland sites in Victoria state. Along with her husband Tom, Professor Vickers-Rich has been responsible for the naming of a number of new Australian dinosaur genera. As to this new American assessment of Australia dinosaur origins she commented that Smith’s group were “pushing the envelope”, implying that they were trying to infer too much information from a single, isolated bone.

Yet Smith and his team take their case even further suggesting that the Australian bone tips the scales in the debate over Megaraptor’s closest relatives – shifting the evidence towards another group of carnivores, the Spinosauridae.

To read an article about a fossil discovery in Australia that may rewrite the evolutionary history of theropods: Tiny Fossil Leads to Theropod Revision.

The south American fossils of Megaraptor have a rather interesting history themselves. The first fossils of Megaraptor were described in 1998, the animal being identified as a dromaeosaur due to the large 30 cm long, highly re-curved claw found. This was first interpreted as being a sickle-like toe claw typical of the raptors. However, the discovery a complete hand in 2003 proved that the claw belonged to the first phalanx (thumb claw). A large thumb claw is a characteristic of baryonychids which are believed to be the ancestors of the later spinosaurs. Hence the conclusions draw by Smith and his colleagues from the study of the ulna found in Australia.

10 06, 2008

New Research Shows Evidence of Interpersonal Violence in Neolithic Europe – Fighting over the Girls

By Mike|2024-04-12T19:23:30+01:00June 10th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Stone Age Tribes may have fought over Women as well as Resources

Stories of conflicts and wars being fought over women are common place in most cultures and societies. The story of Helen of Troy is a typical example, but now new research indicates that fights over women may have taken place in Neolithic times.

Neolithic Men

A new study published this week in the journal Antiquity, may indicate that men executed rivals in order to steal women from neighbouring tribes. In the research into interpersonal violence during the Neolithic of Northwest Europe, the researchers examined the teeth of 34 skeletons found in burial pit in Talheim, southwestern Germany. The pit was discovered in the 1980s and although the human remains had been studied previously, this research team was interested in uncovering the tribal relationships between the people who had been buried there 7,000 years ago.

The research, led by the Anthropology Department of Durham University, in co-operation with scientists from the University College London, Wisconsin University and a local German organisation, examined the teeth of the 34 skeletons found in the burial pit. Strontium, carbon and oxygen isotopes extracted from the ancient teeth, provide information on the person’s geological origin and diet.

Genetic Evidence

The genetic evidence gathered indicates that these were the remains of people killed in a fight between two rival tribes. The 34 people came from three groups – locals, cattle-herders and a “family” of a man, woman and two young children.

Within the group identified as being local to the area, there were only men and children, indicating that the women in this group were spared. Adult female skeletons were found amongst the “immigrants”, perhaps these are the remains of some of the aggressors, women who took part in the attack. The scientists have concluded that the absence of local females in the burial pit showed they were captured instead, and that could have been the primary motivation for this violent attack.

Lead author Dr Alex Bentley from Durham University’s Anthropology Department said: “It seems this community was specifically targeted, as could happen in a cycle of revenge between rival groups.”

Dr Bentley commented further: “Although resources and population were undoubtedly factors in central Europe around that time, women appear to be the immediate reason for the attack. Our analysis points to the local women being regarded as somehow special and were therefore kept alive.”

Research Funded by the Leverhulme Trust

The research was funded primarily by the Leverhulme Trust, with support from the National Science Foundation. This is part of wider research studying the history of interpersonal violence within Neolithic communities of North-western Europe.

Many local police forces are called in when fights break out on a Saturday night, often the cause of the dispute is an argument over girls, it seems our ancestors may also have fought over women. The archaeological findings from this study for the first time strongly suggest violence took place over mates as early as prehistoric times.

The skeletons from the mass grave in Talheim, were all buried in a single pit of three metres long. The deliberateness of the prehistoric attack was first realised when German skeletal experts determined that the majority had been killed by a blow to the left side of the head, suggesting the victims were bound and killed, probably with a stone axe. Others may have been killed from arrow-wounds from behind as if the victims had tried to flee.

Further research will be conducted with the aim of shedding more light on the causes and consequences of such violent actions. The perpetrators of these attacks were not some sort of ape-man but our own species, it seems men have been fighting over women for a very long time.

This article has been compiled using information from Science Daily and Durham University (2008, June 4). Men Fighting Over Women? It’s Nothing New, Suggests Research.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Everything Dinosaur.

9 06, 2008

Fossilised Burrows found in Antarctica

By Mike|2023-02-25T16:44:43+00:00June 9th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Ancient Burrows found in Antarctica

A team of American scientists have discovered fossilised burrows in Antarctica, trace fossils of ancient land animals that pre-date the dinosaurs. This is the first time trace fossils such as burrows have been found on this continent. The burrows have been dated to the Early Triassic and were dug by land living, vertebrates approximately 245 million years ago.

Fossilised Burrows

Although, no remains of the excavators have been found, Christian Sidor of Washington University, who led the team has stated that these burrows were dug by Tetrapods and are not likely to have been dug out by invertebrates such as crayfish. Tetrapod is the scientific name given to four-legged vertebrates and those two-legged and limbless vertebrates descended from them. The term tetrapod, literally means “four feet”.

The limbs of tetrapods have distinct digits, they are believed to have evolved in the Devonian. The oldest Tetrapod fossils, multi-digit animals such as Ichthyostega and Acanthostega have been found in late Devonian river and lake deposits (dated around 360 million years ago). These first four-limbed vertebrates were mainly aquatic creatures but their muscular limbs, perhaps evolving first as an aid to clambering through weed clogged water or perhaps digging for shellfish, were a wonderful pre-adaptation for venturing onto land.

No Body Fossils Found

Though no animal remains were found inside the burrow casts, the hardened sediment in each burrow preserved a track made as the animals entered and exited, according to the American palaeontologists.

“In addition, scratch marks from the animals’ initial excavation were apparent in some places. We have got evidence that these burrows were made by land-dwelling animals rather than crayfish,” commented Christian, the expedition leader and assistant professor of biology at the University of Washington.

Possible Procolophonids?

Despite the absence of fossil bones, the burrows’ relatively small size prompted the U.S. team to speculate that their owners might have been small lizard-like reptiles called procolophonids or an early mammal relative called Thrinaxodon. Thrinaxodon was a cynodont, a small carnivorous synapsid which like other cynodonts and dicynodonts are believed to have lived in burrows and fossils of this little animal, no more than 50 cm long have been found in Antarctica.

The fossils were created when fine sand from an overflowing river poured into the animals’ burrows and hardened into casts of the open spaces. The largest preserved burrow is about 35 cm long (14 inches), 15 cm wide (6 inches) and 8 cm deep (3 inches).

For models and replicas of Triassic prehistoric animals and other extinct creatures: CollectA Prehistoric Life Age of Dinosaurs.

During this time in the Earth’s history Antarctica was joined to landmasses that were to eventually form South America, Africa, India and Australia, although Antarctica may not have been directly over the south pole as it is today, it was certainly a cold, harsh environment and the southerly latitude would have meant that this area would have been in darkness for part of the year. Perhaps these little vertebrates dug burrows to escape the most extreme of the climatic conditions around at the time.

8 06, 2008

Young boy finds Dinosaur Tooth on First Fossil hunting Expedition

By Mike|2022-11-25T07:02:35+00:00June 8th, 2008|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Trip to the Isle of Wight – Dinosaur Tooth Found

For young Josef Bangbala, his first fossil hunting trip turned out to be a red letter day for Isle of Wight palaeontologists. Josef, aged seven, was out on an organised fossil hunting trip with his father whilst on holiday on the Isle of Wight. Keen eyed Josef spotted a two-inch long dinosaur tooth, one of the largest found on the island.

His find has sparked a debate amongst scientists as the tooth, believed to belong to a baryonychid may lead to a re-think over the size and scale of these predatory dinosaurs.

Josef was on a special fossil hunting expedition during half term with his dad Tom, 52, of Stacksteads, Rossendale.

Tom said: “He is into dinosaurs and wants to be a palaeontologist when he is older and so I took him to the Isle of White on the trip last week”.

The southern part of the Isle of Wight has a number of Cretaceous sediments exposed, in fact unusually, the only surface rocks on the island are sedimentary and they only herald from three geological periods. A number of dinosaur fossils have been found on the island, particularly in the south-west between Compton Chine and Atherfield Point. Wave action is constantly exposing new strata at the shoreline, providing opportunities for new fossils to come to light.

Josef’s dad went on to explain: “we were on the beach and he saw it sticking out of the shale. We showed it to the specialist we were with and he was beside himself. He said it was the best thing they have found for at least three years. They wanted to borrow it for a year and put it in the museum on display with Josef’s picture.”

A number of baryonychid teeth have been found but the size of this one makes it particularly special and may indicate that animals such as Baryonyx may have exceeded 10 metres in length.

An Illustration of Baryonyx (Baryonychid)

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Baryonyx was a large meat-eating dinosaur of the Early Cretaceous, a possible ancestor of the spinosaurs. The name means “heavy claw” after the long, re-curved, sharp claws on its thumbs. It is believed this animal was a fish-eater, although it probably was an opportunist hunter, feeding on other dinosaurs as well as scavenging the kills of other carnivores. The first fossils of Baryonyx were discovered by an amateur fossil hunter called William Walker on a visit to a clay pit in Surrey, southern England. About 70% of the entire skeleton of this first specimen was found and although not fully grown, careful study of this fossil has led scientists to speculate that creatures such as Baryonyx could grow to lengths in excess of 10 metres. The large tooth found by Josef also indicates that Baryonyx could have been larger than first thought.

Steve Hutt, curator of Dinosaur Isle, on the Isle of Wight, described the tooth as “extra special” as it was much larger than other teeth found on the island.

“We find things everyday but once every few years we find something extra special like this fossil. I would have been proud to have found it myself. It is particularly extra lucky to have found it on his first hunt. He is so young and he found it all by himself.”

Children often find fossils, there are a number of reasons for this, their eyesight is much more acute than an adult’s and they are able to discern strange objects amongst stones and debris. Also being closer to the ground than an adult, they are often able to spot things overlooked by even the most dedicated expert. Scientists are confident that this tooth is from a baryonychid as teeth from these dinosaurs are very characteristic. They tend to be less re-curved than other large Theropod teeth, but the give-away is their unusually fine serrations (7 per mm). These serrations are called denticles and are used to help determine the type of meat-eating dinosaur the tooth came from. The tooth does not have a root, so it is likely that it was shed when the animal was alive. Teeth with roots are usually associated with a dead animal, the teeth falling out of the skull complete, as the flesh rots away.

To see a model of Baryonyx: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

7 06, 2008

European Champions for Prehistoric Animal Genera? Let’s Have Some Fun!

By Mike|2024-04-12T19:22:12+01:00June 7th, 2008|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Euro 2008 – Who has the most Prehistoric Animal Genera?

Just for a little bit of fun, todays’ article attempts to link the start of the European football championships with geology and palaeontology. Some of our staff members have been in the office today, trying to avoid hearing about the start of the European football championships. With no home country participation, the championships may well pass us by but there are sixteen teams in the tournament all aiming to do what the Greeks did in the last tournament held in 2004 and become the champions of Europe.

Prehistoric Animal Genera

We have compiled a quick and very approximate comparative table of the sixteen finalists in this tournament to see which country could be heralded as the “European Champions” in terms of the number of different prehistoric animal genera and ancient human species found in that particular country. Everything Dinosaur staff have compiled a table using various information sources and calculated a ranking for each country participating in the European Championships. The number of dinosaur and prehistoric animal genera have been quickly assessed, weighted against the actual size of the country and correlated against the number of mentions each country has had in our own web log.

There is no real scientific method behind our research, the information has been compiled just as a little bit of fun whilst working in the office this afternoon. According to our study, and weighted analysis of each country, Croatia comes out with the lowest rank (16) of the countries that have qualified for the finals. There have been relatively few finds in what is quite a small European country. Austria and Switzerland, the joint hosts may not be fancied by many football analysts to make much of an impact in the actual football tournament, but under our brief, unscientific study the hosts fair very differently. Austria for example, comes out with a ranking of fifteenth, whilst Switzerland in contrast are ranked seventh – the equivalent of making the quarter finals.

Portugal, one of the favourites for the football trophy comes out with a high ranking under our study. This relatively small country has had a number of different prehistoric animal genera discovered within their national boundaries. Fossils of dinosaurs such as Brachiosaurs, Allosaurids and Iguanodontids have all been reported from Portugal. As a result, Portugal comes out ranked fifth under our analysis.

Surprise, surprise based on our very crude reckoning we have crowned Germany as European champions. Not only do the Germans have an excellent record in the European Championships, after all, they are one of the favourites to win the competition, but they also have made a huge contribution to palaeontology and geology. Many important fossil finds have been discovered in Germany, examples being the likes of Ichthyosaurs, Liliensternus, Paratypothorax and of course perhaps one of the most important fossil finds of all – Archaeopteryx.

European Championship Table 2008

European Champions – Prehistoric Animal Genera v Country Size (Weighted and Ranked)
	Country size/km	Prehistoric Animal Genera	Examples of Genera	Mentions in Blog	Rank
Group A
Czech Republic	79,000	4	Edaphosaurus, Cave Bear	0	14
Switzerland	41,000	1	Plateosaurus	3	7
Turkey	783,000	8	Cave Bear	1	9
Portugal	92,000	4	Brachiosaurus, Dacentrurus	6	5
Group B
Austria	84,000	5	Rhabdodon, Struthiosaurus	1	15
Croatia	56,000	3	Neanderthal Man	0	16
Germany	357,000	21	Archaeopteryx, Juravenator	30	1
Poland	312,000	6	Sauropods, Ornithopods, Allosaurs*	0	10
Group C
Holland	41,000	3	Mammoths	3	13
Italy	301,000	12	Scipionyx, Eudimorphodon	3	11
Romania	238,000	7	Valdosaurus, Rhabdodon	2	12
France	551,000	18	Liliensternus, Dacentrurus, Plateosaurus	9	2
Group D
Greece	132,000	4	Cave Bear	4	6
Russia	17,098,000	7	Psittacosaurus, Dimetrodon	9	4
Sweden	450,000	3	Hypsilophondontids	0	8
Spain	505,000	13	Baryonyx, Pelicanimimus	6	3

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Note

A number of different types of prehistoric animal have been identified within Poland, many of the dinosaurs have been identified from fossilised footprints (trace fossils). The actual genera cannot be determined under these circumstances but the taxonomic family can usually be stated with a degree of certainty.

So based on our findings and this very rough and ready analysis, it looks like Germany will be champions with France the runners up. The Germans do have an advantage as they have a tradition of prehistoric animal model making which is perhaps why that country receives a lot of mentions in our blog. Nevertheless, Germany has a proud heritage of scientific discovery and as a nation can claim to have some very important palaeontological sites within their boundaries – sites such as Holzmaden and Solnhofen with their late Jurassic sediments as well as early Tertiary sites such as the quarries near Messel in southern Germany.

Some typical prehistoric animals from Germany:

Iguanodon, Plateosaurus, Emausaurus, ichthyosaurs, Europasaurus, Batrachotomus and of course Liliensternus which was named in honour after Hugo Rühle von Lilienstern, a German palaeontologist.

Prehistoric Animal Genera - Europasaurus — *The dwarf Sauropod – Europasaurus.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A model of dinosaurs made by Bullyland of Germany: Bullyland Prehistoric Animal Models.

6 06, 2008

When is a Mass Extinction a Mass Extinction?

By Mike|2022-11-25T06:52:34+00:00June 6th, 2008|Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Defining When a Mass Extinction Occurs

Mass extinctions by definition are substantial and significant events. At any time in the history of life on Earth, there will be a level of background extinctions taking place as well as speciation – the evolution of new species. The vast majority of species recorded in the fossil record have gone extinct as part of this normal background rate, this is a consequence of evolution and the process of adaptation. However, it is the mass extinctions that grab the headlines, although the existence of such events in the geological record of this planet was not really understood and widely accepted until late on in the 19th century.

As scientists and geologists began to understand the stratigraphy (the sequences of rocks laid down in strata, indicating they were of different ages), and an appreciation of the development of life began to emerge, it was noted that many groups of fossils disappeared from the fossil record at about the same time.

Fossils such as ammonites, very abundant in strata dated from the Jurassic and Cretaceous, become more scarce and less diverse in rocks derived from Upper Cretaceous sediments, before finally disappearing from the fossil record completely. Ammonite fossils are not found in rocks younger than approximately 65 million years. Although present in older rocks, they are not known from younger rocks.

An ammonite fossil find. — *An ammonite partially eroded out of a nodule. We think this is an example of Dactylioceras commune. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.*

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

It is partly due to the dramatic change in the fossil record that the boundaries between geological eras and periods are where they are in the chronological history of our planet. For instance, the boundary between the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic eras is at approximately 65 million years ago – the time of a mass extinction that saw the end of the Dinosaurs, mosasaurs, pterosaurs and plesiosaurs. The boundary between the Palaeozoic and the Mesozoic (Permian/Triassic periods), dated to approximately 248 million years ago marks what is believed to have been the greatest mass extinction of all time.

Geologically rapid, major reductions in the diversity of life on a global scale are termed mass extinctions. Patterns of extinction and the severity of the extinction event are assessed by examining their impact on the taxonomic hierarchy. Individual species may become extinct, indeed whole genera (the next taxonomic category up from species) may die out, but the term mass extinction is usually reserved for those events that impact on life at the family level – the next category up from genus/genera). Geologists and palaeontologists have identified five especially severe mass extinction events in the history of life on planet Earth. These are termed the “Big Five” and they are summarised in the table below.

The Big Five Mass Extinction Events (Phanerozoic Eon)

Mass Extinctions – the Big Five (Phanerozoic Eon)
Era	Period	Date (approx)	Main Extinctions
Palaeozoic	Late Ordovician	443 million years	Trilobites, Brachipods, Corals, Echinoderms
Palaeozoic	Late Devonian	355 million years	Reef dwellers – Corals, Bivalves, Sponges
Palaeozoic/Mesozoic	Late Permian	248 million years	Corals, Reef dwellers, Trilobites, Graptolites, Brachipods, Amphibia, Reptilia*
Mesozoic	Late Triassic	206 million years	Gastropods, Cephalopods, Sponges, Reptila, Amphibia, Mammal-like Reptiles, Insects
Mesozoic/Cenozoic	Late Cretaceous	65 million years	Cephalopods, Dinosauria, Pterosaurs, Plesiosaurs, Plankton, Echinoderms

Mass extinction events in Deep Time.

Source: Everything Dinosaur

Note

The Phanerozoic Eon refers to the geological time from approximately 545 million years ago to the present, this eon marks the presence of visible life in the fossil record (animals with hard parts such as shells).

The Permian mass extinction is believed to have been the greatest mass extinction of all with nearly 60% of all marine families becoming extinct. Life on land was devastated too with many groups of amphibians, reptiles and the ancestors of mammals also perishing. Such was the devastation that the term “dead clades walking” has been coined by scientists to describe those remnants of once diverse and abundant families of organism left behind.

It is possible for a fossil of an organism to be found in rocks which were formed after these organisms are believed to have become extinct. This is not always due to some “living fossil” existing in a remote, isolated area after the rest of their species have died out, but perhaps due to a process called redistribution. For example, a fossil of a sea urchin, preserved as an internal flint mould, laid down originally in Cretaceous chalk strata. As the chalk is weathered and eroded the more robust flint nodule survives this physical process and eventually under the effects of wind and rain is deposited in a river where it mixes with sand and gravels before finally coming to rest at a bend where the river water slows down, losses energy and deposits its load of debris. Thus the flint nodule, no doubt having suffered some weathering may find itself redistributed into younger sediments.

Everything Dinosaur stocks a range of replicas of iconic animals from the fossil record: Replicas of Iconic Fossil Animals.

5 06, 2008

A Recipe for Making Tyrannosaurus rex Gingerbread

By Mike|2022-11-25T06:46:04+00:00June 5th, 2008|Educational Activities, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Dinosaur Gingerbread Biscuits – a Tasty Tyrannosaurus Treat

Tyrannosaurus rex is regarded as one of the fiercest predators ever to have stalked the planet. Although palaeontologists debate what proportion of its meat only diet was from prey that had been actively hunted, compared to scavenging the kills of other animals, it certainly had the tools for a position at the top of the food chain.

With keen eyesight, a superb sense of smell plus an immensely powerful set of jaws, Tyrannosaurus rex was one dinosaur best avoided in case it made a snack out of you. However, you can get your own back, turning the tables on T. rex and eating him rather than have a T. rex have you for dinner, with this simple recipe for T. rex shaped gingerbread. These biscuits are ideal for a snack for young children and great for dinosaur themed parties.

A Recipe for Tyrannosaurus rex Gingerbread Biscuits

A recipe for T. rex gingerbread biscuits.

T. rex gingerbread biscuits recipe.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Recipe for Tyrannosaurus rex shaped Gingerbread

To make the dinosaur shapes, we suggest you use a dinosaur shaped cookie cutter or a similar kitchen tool.

Ingredients (makes about 20 biscuits)

For the Biscuits

Unsalted butter, softened 125 grammes (4 oz)

Soft brown sugar 60 grammes (2 oz)

Golden syrup 90 grammes (3 oz)

One egg lightly beaten

Plain flour, sifted to remove any lumps 250 grammes (8 oz)

Self-raising flour 30 grammes (1 oz)

One tablespoon of ground ginger and one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

Icing for Decoration

Icing sugar, sifted 125 grammes (4 oz)

Softened unsalted butter 40 grammes (1.5 oz)

Assorted food colourings

Method

1). Preheat the oven to 180° C/350° F (gas mark 4). Line two baking trays with baking paper.

2). Using electric beaters, cream the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg gradually, beating well after each addition. Sift the dry ingredients over the butter mixture and mix with a knife until just combined. Combine the dough with your hands. Turn onto a well-floured surface and knead for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth. Roll out onto a chopping board, between two sheets of baking paper, to 5mm thick. Chill on the board for 15 minutes to firm.

3). Cut the dough into shapes with the dinosaur cutters. Press the remaining dough together and re-roll. Cut out shapes and place the biscuits on the trays. Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on the trays.

The Tyrannosaurus rex Gingerbread on a Cooling Tray

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

4). To make the icing, place the sifted icing sugar and softened unsalted butter in a mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth, adding 1-2 tablespoons of water if necessary.

5). Divide the icing among several bowls and add the food colourings. Spoon into small paper icing bags. Seal ends, snip the tips off the bags and pipe onto the biscuits. You can also use all sorts of cake decorations – jellies, sprinkles and such like.

These gingerbread biscuits were made using the Tyrannosaurus rex biscuit cutter, a handy, robust cookie cutter in the shape of this famous dinosaur.

The Tyrannosaurus rex Biscuit Cutter

Picture Credit: Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur is a UK-based supplier of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed models, toys and merchandise, check-out our website: Everything Dinosaur.