The Pros And Cons Of Pterosaurs

“We often think of the T-Rex as this huge crocodile-like bipedal reptile but in fact, its closest modern relative are birds and the T-Rex was actually the dinosaur equivalent of a chicken” explains Linda Rushmore, head researcher at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Paleontology

There are numerous counts of evidence showing the processes of evolution and how species ultimately evolved over millions of years. One of the most compelling hypotheses behind evolution was presented by Charles Darwin with his study of the Galapagos Islands. His study showing the various different birds and their different evolutions they went through to be able to survive the changes of weather and relocation. The birds he studied had to change in order to survive, or as he simply puts it: “Survival of the Fittest”. Evolution is the changing of past organisms to diversify and have the ability to fit better in their environment and survive. Diving into the dinosaur cladogram, studies have shown that ancient dinosaurs, over hundreds of millions of years ago, evolved into our modern day birds, and not lizards as many suppose. It became apparent that there would not be enough food for a 9 ton dinosaur to consume on a daily basis forever. So evolution occurred and dinosaurs evolved to become more efficient so they could survive more effectively in their

There are four main groups of reptiles, known as Crocodilians, Squamates, Tuataras, and Turtles. Crocodilians consists of large reptiles which includes alligators, crocodiles, gharials, and caimans. Squamates are lizards, snakes, and worm-lizards. A worm-lizard is a subterranean burrowing reptile that resembles an earthworm, a legless lizard. Tuataras are a group of reptiles that are lizard-like in appearance but are different from squamates because their skull isn’t jointed. Turtles are the most ancient reptiles alive today. They have changed very little since they first showed up 220 million years ago. The first turtle appeared 220 million years ago.(Laura Klappenbach)

Birds are closely related to crocodiles because they share the same ancestry with the dinosaurs. To compare the crocodile and lizard, one would think the lizard is closely related to crocodiles, as we read in our text, "similar structures don't always reveal common ancestry." Crocodiles and birds evolved having the same common ancestry as the dinosaur. Lizards, on the other hand, do not share a close common ancestor with crocodiles or dinosaurs, their common ancestry is more distant.

While a theropod “beast-footed” carnivore includes the T. Rex, the ones that likely roamed Wrangel-St.Elias National Park were considerably smaller. The researchers found evidence of a single theropod that was likely a tiny 9 cm long and 7 cm wide due to an impression of the sinusoidal shape. Several ornithopod, medium and large plant-eating dinosaurs, was identified by blunt and rounded digit impressions which are usually 22 cm long and 26 wide. It was the first evidence that dinosaurs roamed this vast region.

The elongated arm bones that support the wing evolved in the first coelurosaur, which probably looked like ornitholestes. As far as we know feathers are unique to birds, but this doesn’t mean that birds are not dinosaurs. Because birds belong to the group called dinosaurs, it follows that birds are feathered dinosaurs. The closest known evolutionary relatives of birds are some of the small carnivorous dinosaurs, such as velociraptor, ornitholestes, and deinonychus. The difference between a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Apatosaurus is that almost everything about Tyrannosaurus Rex indicates enormous power of one of the largest theropod dinosaurs that ever existed. They have a 4-foot-long jaw, 6-inch-long teeth and massive thighbones. It is the largest and most fearsome carnivore of all time. The fossil was originally arranged so that the dinosaur stood

Many other animals besides dinosaurs lived during the Cretaceous. These animals were very diverse and included pterosaurs, ancient flying reptiles,

After all of the hatchlings had been safely guided back into the ocean, NAME looked around to ensure that he hadn't left any behind... until he spotted a large mound in the sand, a clear indicator of another turtle nest nearby. Wanting to protect these vulnerable critters, NAME build a small barrier around the nest with sticks, so other animals would know that there was a nest there, and to be careful while around it. Knowing that the indicators would not protect the nest from predators, NAME settled down near the nest to ensure that those pesky gulls wouldn't come

Parrsboro’s very own, local fossil collector Eldon George discovered the world’s smallest dinosaur footprints. They were made by a creature no bigger than a robin. His discovery proved the theory that birds evolved from dinosaurs.

Tyrannosaurs Rex, better known as the T-Rex, which means Tyrant lizard king lived during the late Cretaceous period, about 85 million to 65 million years ago. They were 40 feet long and 20 feet tall and weighed up to 7.5 tons. They were strictly carnivores and used their very sharp teeth to eat other dinosaurs. Fossils were discovered in Western North America and the skull of a T- Rex alone measured up to 1.5m(5ft) long. The also have the record of having the largest tooth of any carnivorous dinosaur found to this day, which is around 30cm (12in) long. When the T-Rex hits around the age of 14 its body size would increase rapidly, putting on around 600kg (1300Ib) a year over the next 4 years.

Could birds be the closest relative there is to a dinosaur? Well they have said to of survived the comet that hit Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs as they were able to hang in the skies out of danger. Another common feature that birds have over mammals and other animals is that they are egg laying just like reptiles and discoveries show that the eggs have the same micro structure. Palaeontologists compared the skeletal characteristics of dinosaur skeletons and bird skeletons and saw that both had many common traits. Hollow, thin walled bones, S shaped curved neck, 4 toed but only supported by three main toes and many

The Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the most powerful and prevailing dinosaurs to ever exist. These large carnivores lived during the late Cretaceous Period, which was about 66 million years ago. They roamed the lands of which is now present day western North America. Its name comes from the Greek and Latin origins, the word ‘tyrannosaurus’ meaning ‘tyrant lizard’ in Greek, and ‘rex’ meaning ‘king’ in Latin. The infamous T-Rex had a very unique body structure. A massive 5-foot long skull, tiny 3-foot long arms, and an elongated tail to balance the whole body out were not common features among ferocious predators.

Disregarding the feathers of Longisquama, and therefore disregarding its link to Archaeopteryx, these scientists still fully support the dinosaur-bird link. As mentioned before, the extreme majority of paleontologists still subscribe to this idea. A recent discovery in the western region of China seems to clarify the link between dinosaurs and birds. Living at roughly the same time as Archaeopteryx, Sinovenator changii is very closely related to the bird yet is classified as a dinosaur.5

The reading claims that the Pterosaurs were not capable of powered flight. However, the lecturer finds all the idea dubious and presents some evidence to refute them all.

After discovering dinosaurs, Paleontologists then had to classify and name the fossils and dinosaurs they belonged to.