Team members at Everything Dinosaur comment upon dinosaurs and Valentine’s Day as we celebrate this special day in the calendar.  This date is associated with chocolates and flowers.  It might seem a world away from the Dinosauria, but we can find some fascinating connections.

For example, a few years ago Everything Dinosaur commissioned a colourful heart-themed logo for use in its range of children’s T-shirts.  Dinosaurs are certainly very popular with many children.

I love dinosaurs! Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of dinosaur-themed clothing stocked: Dinosaur Themed Clothing.

Dinosaurs and Valentine’s Day

Palaeontologists have implied nurturing behaviour in dinosaurs by interpreting the fossil record.  For example, evidence of communal nesting has been found.  In addition, it is thought that many dinosaurs cared for their offspring as demonstrated by the amazing fossils found at the “Egg Mountain” nesting site associated with the hadrosaur Maiasaura (M. peeblesorum).

Dinosaur hatchlings! Maternal behaviour has been suggested for some dinosaur taxa. As it is Valentine’s Day, we remember receiving this model as a gift after providing some information on the Late Cretaceous hadrosaurid Maiasaura (M. peeblesorum) to a customer. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Dinosaur Courtship Displays

Dinosaurs probably indulged in elaborate courtship displays, just like their avian relatives. Dinosaur courtship displays likely involved complicated behaviours such as dynamic movements and intricate vocalisations.

For example, in early 2016, we wrote about some recently published research that may have provided an insight into dinosaur display behaviour. Could scrapes in the ground represent preserved dinosaur courtship displays?

To read our article: Dance of the Dinosaurs.

Pterosaurs probably indulged in complex social displays too.  Our thanks to Caldey who sent into Everything Dinosaur an illustration of a bonded pair of azhdarchid pterosaurs.  The illustration was inspired by the television series Prehistoric Planet II.  It is a great picture, and fitting considering today is Valentine’s day.

Two Hatzegopteryx pterosaurs illustrated. The drawing inspired by a scene from the recently aired Prehistoric Planet II. Picture credit: Caldey.

Picture credit: Caldey

We have to use our imaginations when it comes to depicting the courtship behaviours of long extinct animals.  It is likely that some of the courtship displays of the Dinosauria would have been spectacular.  A couple of lovesick forty tonne sauropods with only eyes for each other.  Or ritual combat between two ceratopsians as they battled over mating rights. If only we could travel back in time to observe these behaviours.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys and Models.