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Great Expectations About Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs roamed the Earth during the Mesozoic era. A majority of people think that all dinosaurs are ferociously big reptiles. As noted since the year 1842, the term "dinosaur" signifies "terrible lizard". For a fact, dinosaurs are not lizards but they shared a similar ancestor.

A majority of people think that all dinosaurs are ferociously big reptiles. Although this is generally true, there are many believed misconceptions, especially abut their extinction.

As noted since the year 1842, the term "dinosaur" signifies "terrible lizard". For a fact, dinosaurs are not lizards but they shared a similar ancestor. As a bulk or group, lizards are regarded as "primitive" types as compared to the dinosaurs. Although dinosaurs were considered as the largest amongst land animals, many of these "great dinosaurs" were no larger than a common turkey.

It is indicated that dinosaurs thrived the Earth during the Mesozoic era. This is also what they called as "The Age of Reptiles", which lasted from approximately 245 million up to 65 Million Years ago. As time passed, it is believed that these dinosaur groups got bigger. Thus, things changed when the so-called "extinction event" took place 65 million years ago, wiping out all dinosaurs except for a few dinosaurs that were bird-like in features.

Amidst many disagreements amongst scientists, it was still noted that this extinction event may have started as a kind of asteroid impact, subsequently resulting to the erupting volcanoes' choking of chemicals and extreme climatic changes among others.

This is one reason why only the classic big dinosaurs have become extinct. Experts still believe that birds are actually living dinosaurs. Others also believe that the Pterosaurs or the flying extinct reptiles were dinosaurs. As a matter of fact, they are merely the closest relatives of the dinosaurs. They are not dinosaurs, technically.

Paleontology has helped many understand dinosaurs and the way they roamed the Earth millions of years ago. Paleontology is the study of fossils. It will tell you the appearance of the organism and its evolutionary process. Thus, a fossil is regarded as any trace or remains like a bone, footprint or shell that was preserved inside a rock via gradually being changed into a rock itself. These traces or remains should belong to any type of plant or animal that walked through the Earth a long, long time ago.

From the previously recovered fossils, studies showed that some dinosaurs that were more advanced had feathers or actual body coverings that were feather-like. Even so, several of these advanced dinosaurs cannot fly or glide, for that matter. The purpose of their feathers is not for flight but for keeping warm, just like juveniles.

Furthermore, scientists have found a way to classify the dinosaurs. They divided them in two chief groups. They based it on the bone structure of the dinosaur's hips.

One category would be the Saurischian Dinosaurs. It is pronounced as "sor-ISK-ee-en. A good example would be the Deinonychus, Maniraptors, the famous Tyrannosaurs Rex and some birds. These dinosaurs are "reptile-hipped" and their pelvis actually points forward, which is very similar to other primitive animals as well. Other features of the Saurischian Dinosaurs would be:

• Sharp and large teeth
• Long neck
• 1st finger that points away from the other fingers
• Long 2nd fingers

These Saurischian Dinosaurs are further subdivided into two major groups. This would be the:

1. Sauropods - These are 4-legged herbivores. Good examples would be the Brachiosaurusm Diplodocus and the Apatosaurus among others. These were the largest amongst land animals but they had very small brains. They also had large guts which they use in order to digest grasses and leaves.

2. Theropods - These are 2-legged carnivores. Living birds are also associated as Theropods. Good examples would be the Allosaurus, Albertosaurus and the Velociraptor. They are considered as very agile. They possess large eyes making them very keen on spotting prey. They have "grasping claws" and sharp teeth meant for slicing their prey. The Theropods are also indicated as the extinct birds' ancestors. This would include the Archaeopteryx or the "first bird" ever documented. Other living birds that had evolved from different branches of the family tree of dinosaurs are also included in this sect. When it comes to their behavior, science has come a long way in knowing about the wonders of the dinosaur era. Scientists have noted that Theropod Dinosaurs have a similar behavior to actual living birds. This would include tucking their heads beneath their forelimbs when they sleep and nesting in order to have their eggs protected.

The other category is the Ornithischian Dinosaurs. It is pronounced as or-neh-THISK-ee-en. This group has horns and frills. Examples would include the Iguanodontids, Ceratopsians, Duck-billed Hadrosaurs and Armored Stegosaurs among others. Among these the Duck-billed Hadrosaurs are the mild mannered and plant eaters of the group. The dinosaurs in this group has a pelvis that is pointing backward or "bird hips". This is amidst the fact that birds are not their ancestors. Thus, their bird hips is a bit stable and provides a more lumbering appearance. They also possess a bump in front of the lower portion of their jaw. This is actually 'beak-like". Plus, their teeth are blunter and smaller as compared to the Saurischian Dinosaurs.

Some of the common and popular dinosaurs are as follows:

1. Ceratosaurus

Fossils found in: Fremont County, Colorado, USA from 1883 up to 1884
Estimated Height: 2 meters or 6 feet and 6 inches
Estimated Length: 6 meters or 20 feet
Estimated Weight: 1 tonne

The Ceratosaurs or the so-called "horned reptile" was a carnivorous dinosaur that had a bony hump right on its snout. Many scientists believe that this hump was not used as a form of protection but as their means of fighting with other males for mates. The weaponry it uses for protection would be its bone-crashing jaws and giant fangs. It is also believed that they were very good swimmers.

2. Deinonychus

Fossils found in: North America
Estimated Weight: 250 pounds or 80 kilograms
Estimated Length: 3 up to 3.3 meters or 10 up to 11 feet
The Deinonychus or the so-called "terrible claw" had claws and a toe that is sickle-shaped on each of its foot. It is a known carnivore that hunts in packs. It also uses its tail in order to keep its balance while doing a leaping attack. In order to slash its victim, it will use its swiveling claws situated in its 2nd toe.

3. Dilophosaurus

Fossils found in: Arizona, USA in the year 1942
Estimated Weight: 1,500 pounds or 681.8 kilograms
Estimated length: 6 meters or 20 feet

The Dilophosaurus or the so-called "two-ridged reptile" had two bony thin crests which looks a lot like 2 half dinner plates that runs from the top portion of its nose towards the back part of its huge head. Since it has slender and weak jaws, it does not have the ability to prey on other reptiles. It is more likely to be a scavenger. Thus, its feet had 3 clawed toes and a bi toe that is turned backward.

4. Diplodocus

Fossils found in: Canyon City, Colorado, USA in the year 1877
Estimated Weight: 10 up to 11 tonnes
Estimated Length: 27 meters or 88 feet and 6 inches

The Diplodocus or the so-called "double beam" has small bones underneath its backbone. These beams would have a piece running forward and a piece running backward, thus the reason why it is regarded as having double beams. The Diplodocus has 15-neck vertebrae. Its feet were similar to that of an elephant's, having 5 short toes. Thus, it is the longest known dinosaur that ever walked the Earth. In fact, its size was its main form of defense. Its long tail is also a defense mechanism to whip its attackers. Many scientists believed that the Diplodocus eats leaves that weigh more than 1 metric tonnes.

5. Plesiosaurus

Fossils found in: England by a certain Mary Anning in the year 1821
Estimated Length: 2.5 up to 14 meters or 8.20 up to 45.93 feet

The Plesiosaurus is actually not an indicated dinosaur. It is more of a huge swimming reptile. Its name signifies "nearer to the reptiles". This is due to the fact that it is in-between a type of fish and a reptile. In fact, it is similar to a "modern-day" sea lion. Scientists believe that it was a "bottom-feeder" which completely swims underwater through the use of its large limbs that were formed like paddles. It also uses its long neck to dart towards the clams, snails and fishes. Thus, since it still needs air to be able to breathe, it will generally come up to the surface of the water once in a while.

6. Pteranodon

Fossils found in: Smoky Hill River, Kansas, USA from the year 1870 up to the year 1871.
Estimated Wing Span: 7 meters or 23 feet
Estimated Weight: 36.6 pounds or 16.6 kilograms

The Pteranodon or the "toothless flyer" was considered as a flying reptile. It is believed that it has the ability of "sustained soaring and flying" because it can range as far as the open sea in order to catch some fish. Since it has a toothless bill, it also has a pouch where it can have the fishes it catches stored. Its head had a bony crest that acts as a counterbalance for its very large beak. It is also believed that it thrives a lot like the Albatross these days.

7. Triceratops

Fossils found in: Niobrara County Wyoming, USA from the year 1889 up to the year 1892
Estimated Weight: 5 up to 6 tonnes
Estimated Length: 9 meters or 29 feet and 6 inches

The Triceratops or the so-called "3-horned face" is also considered as the most popular horned dinosaur. It has a weight equivalent to 2 elephants. The bony and broad frills situated at the back portion of its head are indicated to help it cool down and warm up. It's powerful built and "long facial horns" make it a dreadful opponent to even the biggest carnosaur. Males would lock their horns when they fight.

8. Tyrannosaurus Rex

Fossils found in: Dawson County, Northern Montana, USA in the year 1902
Estimated Height: 5.6 meters or 18 feet and 6 inches
Estimated Length: 14 meters or 64 feet
Estimated Weight: 7 tonnes

The Tyrannosaurus Rex is the most controversial and popular dinosaur that ever lived. Its name signifies "tyrant reptile". It is considered as the most powerful flesh-eating dinosaur that roamed the Earth. It has massive jaws and its teeth are about 18 centimeters in length. It actually rushes to its prey with it jaws opened wide. It will use its huge clawed feet to pin its prey down while it tears off chunks of its flesh using its mouth. This is the most dreaded dinosaur according to belief.

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Yixian

History
Japanese occupation
The potential importance of the Yixian Formation was first recognized at the time of the Japanese Empire controlled a large part of Manchuria (northern China) called "Jehol." During the occupation of Jehol, many Japanese scientists have become aware of the fossil remains of extinct reptiles, fish and perhaps champsosaurs. These initial findings by the fossil Japanese scientists have disappeared after the Second World War ended in 1945.
Rediscovering China
In 1949, when the administration the area between the Chinese Communist Party Mao Zedong, the Yixian fossils were studied by Chinese scientists. It was not until the 1990s when fossil remarkable birds and dinosaurs have been discovered. Since 1996, a series of dinosaur fossils that have revolutionized the understanding of these animals were found in Yixian, among them are the first known non-avian theropod with feathers. View Jehol biota.
Dating
Recently, the training was thought to be Upper Cretaceous Jurassicarly some million years 145 (million years). Radiometric dating determined to be younger, but now is regarded as having been filed in the Barremian to Aptian, approximately 125,121,000 years.
Yixian is the lowest part of the group Jehol, defined by Gu (1962 and 1983) as a group of geologic formations bearing beds Jehol Coal, oil shale Jehol beds and volcanic rocks Jehol. Yixian formation is preceded by increased Daohugou beds of Jurassic or early uncertain Cretaceous, which are sometimes considered part of Jehol. Yixian Formation (including synonyms Jingangshan, Tuhulu, Jianchang, Lower volcanic formations volcanic rock) is followed by education stratigraphically slightly younger Jiufotang Fuxin and training. Chiappe et al. argued in 1999 that the oldest beds the Yixian (those which carry a fauna dominated by birds confuciusornithid) were separated from the best training others, called the Chaomidianzi training with a type locality in the village of Sihetun, about 25 km south of the city of Beipiao. However, this ranking has fallen from grace, and Training obsolete as a synonym for the Formation of the House Jianshangou Yixian Chaomidianzi.
The oldest formation in Yixian Hebei Province Fengning Dabeigou may precede immediately or be equivalent to the use of Yixian beds. The Yixian Tuchengzi also covers in some places.
Yixian Formation is divided into sub-units following the most recent to oldest:
Jingangshan Rooms
Home Dawangzhangzi (~ 122 Ma)
Jianshangou rural (124.6 Ma)
Home Lujiatun (~ 125 Ma)
Ecology
The Yixian Formation is the second of three main phases of the fauna that characterize the Jehol biota, mainly based on changes in the invertebrate diversity. The Yixian, ostracods (seed shrimp) has diversified considerably, despite a variety of very low in the previous training Dabeigou. Other major groups of invertebrates in the Yixian include clam shrimps and insects. Insects as a group saw their greater diversity throughout the Mesozoic Era in the Yixian. In addition, some groups of invertebrates such as bivalves and gastropods (snails and slugs) were numerous, but low in diversity, being represented mainly by one or two dominant species (Arguniella in the case of bivalves).
Studies of vertebrates have shown their support to the division Jehol in phases, and diversity of fish in the Yixian formation was different from the young and old, with Lycoptera that the dominant species. The Yixian Jehol retains the first dinosaurs and pterosaurs (Not found in older Dabeigou training) and the first major radiation of birds (a bird species is known to Dabeigou). The Yixian also retains the largest group (and only) for the radiation of mammals now known Jehol. Most vertebrates show a tendency to climb trees or trees including many birds live in trees and climbing mammals and lizards.
Plant life peaked Jehol Yixian biota. Five species of flowering plants were present (three Archaefructus, one and one Sinocarpus Archaeamphora) and a variety of queues horse is very similar to modern species. It is possible that in growing animals and plant diversity are linked. Yixian Formation is characterized by vast forests, dominated by trees such as gingko, conifers, cycads, ferns and tree seedlings. groundcover plants, including mosses, horsetails, ferns, flowering plants were rare and primitive in comparison with others.
This plant life grew up around a series of lakes sweet, always with abundant mineral by periodic volcanic eruptions. The volcanic activity with periodic fires, and noxious gases released the bottom of lakes caused the ecosystem to continually destroyed and re-grow. This, combined with the great diversity of habitats in the region surroundings, may have contributed to the rapid diversification of life forms in the Yixian ecosystem.
Weather
With the diversity of flora well known in the Yixian, including examples of a variety of petrified wood and the growth rings, scientists have determined the climate of the training. Yixian flora was dominated by conifer species closely related to modern found mainly in mountain forests in subtropical and temperate. The presence of ferns, cycads, and horsetails indicates a generally warm and humid climate. However, evidence of growth rings of petrified wood indicates that the supply of moisture and water has declined steadily. This indicates that wet conditions were interrupted by wet season dry, in which the environment became more arid and dry.
Paleobiota
Main article: Paleobiota Yixian
Yixian formation is well known for its wide variety of well-preserved specimens and dinosaurs with feathers.
See also
List of fossil sites (with link directory)
List of sites for dinosaur fossils, taking
References
Earth sciences portal
Paleontology portal
Dinosaurs portal
^ ABCDEFG Zhou, Z. (2006). "Evolutionary Radiation Jehol Biota: chronological and ecological perspectives." Geological Magazine, 41: 377393.
Swisher ^ Carl C., Yuan-Qing Wang, Xiao Lin Wang, Xing Xu, Yuan Wang. (1999). "Age of Dinosaurs Creatceous feathers Liaoning, China. Nature 400:5861 1 July 1999.
^ Gu, ZW (1983) "On the border of non-marine Jurassic and Cretaceous in China," in: "Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academica Sinica "stratigraphic chart in China with explanatory text of the press" The Science, Beijing 1983:6582.
Jingeng ^ Sha. (2007) "The Cretaceous stratigraphy North-east China: the correlation non-marine and maritime "Cretaceous Research 28 (2) April 2007 pp.146170
^ Chiappe, LM, Ji SA, Ji, Q., and Norell, MA (1999). "Anatomy and systematic Confuciusornithidae (Aves) from the Mesozoic of Northeastern China." Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 1999.
^ Chen, P., P. Wang, H. Zhang, Cao, W. Li, S. Wu, and Y. Shen. (2005). "Jianshangou bed of the Yixian Formation in Liaoning Western China. "Science in China Series D - Earth Sciences, 48: 298312. doi: 10.1360/04yd0038
^ Wang, Y., Ken, S., Zhang, W. and Zheng, S. (2006). "Biodiversity and palaeoclimate of the Middle Jurassic floras of vocational training Tiaojishan western Liaoning, China" Progress in science Natural, 16 (1): .. 222,230 DOI: 10.1080/10020070612330087
^ Wang, Y., Zheng, S., Yang, X. Zhang, W., and Ni, P. (2006). "Biodiversity and palaeoclimate coniferous flora from the Lower Cretaceous deposits in western Liaoning, northeastern China. "International Symposium major geological events Cretaceous and the earth system, 56A.
Categories: Cretaceous paleontological sites in Asia | Natural history Geology of China | | Geography of Liaoning in China | LagerstttenHidden categories: Articles containing Chinese text About the Author

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