Dinosaurs! Carla Bitter, Zoo Experiences

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Dinosaurs! Carla Bitter, Zoo Experiences Dinosaurs!Dinosaurs! Carla Bitter, Zoo Experiences WelcomeWelcome toto PlanetPlanet Earth:Earth: MesozoicMesozoic versionversion includedincluded thethe Triassic,Triassic, JurassicJurassic && CretaceousCretaceous periodsperiods Middle Jurassic – 175 million years ago. MessagesMessages fromfrom thethe Mesozoic:Mesozoic: Our planet was different place. Continents were closer, the atmosphere had more oxygen, giants roamed every land mass and swam in the Early Cretaceous – 125 million years ago prehistoric sea. It was the Age of the Dinosaur. It lasted over 170 million years and it ended with a bang 65 million years ago in what is known as the 5th mass extinction. Late Cretaceous – 75 million years ago A typical landscape of the Triassic Period, 251 - 205 million years ago Illustrator: Karen Carr TheThe Triassic:Triassic: 251251--205205 myamya TheThe firstfirst dinosaurs,dinosaurs, prosauropods,prosauropods, earlyearly ornithopods,ornithopods, smallsmall predatorspredators likelike EoraptorEoraptor andand HerrerasaurusHerrerasaurus appeared.appeared. TheThe mammalmammal--likelike reptilesreptiles werewere declining.declining. TheThe longlong--tailedtailed pterosaurspterosaurs rulerule thethe air.air. Sharks,Sharks, bonybony fishesfishes andand ichthyosaursichthyosaurs inhabitinhabit thethe oceansoceans EarlyEarly crocodiles,crocodiles, lizardslizards andand turtlesturtles thrive;thrive; insectsinsects suchsuch asas cockroachescockroaches andand dragonfliesdragonflies flourishflourish PrimitivePrimitive mammalsmammals werewere appearingappearing A typical landscape of the Jurassic Period, 205 - 141 million years ago. Illustrator: Karen Carr TheThe Jurassic:Jurassic: 205205--141141 myamya TheThe mainmain dinosaursdinosaurs werewere theropods,theropods, sauropods,sauropods, earlyearly stegosaurs,stegosaurs, andand hypsilophodontians.hypsilophodontians. Fishes,Fishes, plesiosaursplesiosaurs andand ichthyosaursichthyosaurs dominateddominated thethe sea.sea. LongLong--tailedtailed pterosaurspterosaurs stillstill ruledruled thethe air.air. AdvancedAdvanced amphibiansamphibians suchsuch asas frogsfrogs appeared.appeared. A typical landscape of the early Cretaceous Period, 146 million years ago. Illustrator: Karen Carr TheThe Cretaceous:Cretaceous: 146146--6565 myamya FloweringFlowering plantsplants werewere spreadingspreading throughoutthroughout thethe world.world. SomeSome dinosaursdinosaurs includingincluding meatmeat--eatingeating tyrannosaurstyrannosaurs werewere becomingbecoming dominantdominant whilewhile othersothers suchsuch asas plantplant--eating,eating, platedplated dinosaursdinosaurs likelike stegosaursstegosaurs werewere declining.declining. EarlyEarly formsforms ofof birdsbirds andand mammalsmammals livedlived inin mostmost continentscontinents A typical landscape of the late Cretaceous Period, c75 million years ago. Illustrator: Karen Carr RichardRichard DawkinsDawkins usesuses thethe pianopiano toto explainexplain thethe vastnessvastness ofof geologicalgeological time.time. QuickQuick ProjectProject LogisticsLogistics Installation underway Open to the public April 30th through September Entry at Guest Services West, pre-paid, timed group entry and same ticket purchase available Hand stamp, unlimited visits $3 ages 3 and up Billings Productions, Inc 7 North American species including 3 juveniles and a nest of hatchlings MeetMeet OurOur DinosDinos:: BrachiosaurusBrachiosaurus TallestTallest (19ft(19ft atat head)head) butbut approxapprox 1/31/3 scalescale Herders,Herders, socialsocial herbivores,herbivores, weighedweighed asas muchmuch asas 2020 elephantselephants LateLate Jurassic/EarlyJurassic/Early CretaceousCretaceous WaterWater Warning:Warning: DilophosaurusDilophosaurus MotherMother--daughterdaughter spittersspitters EarlyEarly Jurassic,Jurassic, largestlargest meatmeat eatereater ofof timetime •• 20ft20ft long/6long/6 ftft tall,tall, approxapprox toto scalescale •• PackPack huntinghunting carnivorescarnivores ColorColor Candidate:Candidate: ParasaurolophusParasaurolophus LateLate CretaceousCretaceous herbivoreherbivore Ornate,Ornate, hollowhollow tubetube crest,crest, largestlargest ofof thethe hadrosaurshadrosaurs 16ft16ft high,high, 4040 ftft longlong (approx(approx ½½ scale)scale) EuoplocephalusEuoplocephalus:: ZooZoo ConservationConservation 55 ftft xx 20ft,20ft, nearlynearly fullfull scalescale SlowSlow movingmoving herbivore,herbivore, superiorsuperior sensesense ofof smellsmell andand intricateintricate nasalnasal cavitycavity LateLate CretaceousCretaceous GoodGood Parents?Parents? StyracosaurusStyracosaurus Stands about 6 ft tall, 18 ft long Late Cretaceous, large, social nesting herds Herbivores with powerful beaks, coastal Sports the longest horn of any known dinosaur GiantGiant DappledDappled Ducklings:Ducklings: EdmontosaurusEdmontosaurus && NestNest 50 ft long, 20 ft tall (1/2 scale) River floodplains, coastal herbivores, herders Mass migrations between habitats, Late Cretaceous Could stand on hind legs to feed on trees Capable of wide range of sounds throughout life TyrannosaurusTyrannosaurus && BabyBaby 41 ft long, 16.5 ft high, full scale adult Top speed? 24 mph Pack hunter, carnivore, acute vision and hearing Hatchlings may have had downy feathers DinosaursDinosaurs werewere somesome ofof thethe mostmost successfulsuccessful animalsanimals thatthat everever lived.lived. In fact, some of them are still here, as well as ancient plants Tyrannosaurs rex: such as cycads and ferns which A full scale Dino Icon will be featured in the exhibit. Questions??Questions??.
Recommended publications
  • The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, Second Edition
    MASS ESTIMATES - DINOSAURS ETC (largely based on models) taxon k model femur length* model volume ml x specific gravity = model mass g specimen (modeled 1st):kilograms:femur(or other long bone length)usually in decameters kg = femur(or other long bone)length(usually in decameters)3 x k k = model volume in ml x specific gravity(usually for whole model) then divided/model femur(or other long bone)length3 (in most models femur in decameters is 0.5253 = 0.145) In sauropods the neck is assigned a distinct specific gravity; in dinosaurs with large feathers their mass is added separately; in dinosaurs with flight ablity the mass of the fight muscles is calculated separately as a range of possiblities SAUROPODS k femur trunk neck tail total neck x 0.6 rest x0.9 & legs & head super titanosaur femur:~55000-60000:~25:00 Argentinosaurus ~4 PVPH-1:~55000:~24.00 Futalognkosaurus ~3.5-4 MUCPv-323:~25000:19.80 (note:downsize correction since 2nd edition) Dreadnoughtus ~3.8 “ ~520 ~75 50 ~645 0.45+.513=.558 MPM-PV 1156:~26000:19.10 Giraffatitan 3.45 .525 480 75 25 580 .045+.455=.500 HMN MB.R.2181:31500(neck 2800):~20.90 “XV2”:~45000:~23.50 Brachiosaurus ~4.15 " ~590 ~75 ~25 ~700 " +.554=~.600 FMNH P25107:~35000:20.30 Europasaurus ~3.2 “ ~465 ~39 ~23 ~527 .023+.440=~.463 composite:~760:~6.20 Camarasaurus 4.0 " 542 51 55 648 .041+.537=.578 CMNH 11393:14200(neck 1000):15.25 AMNH 5761:~23000:18.00 juv 3.5 " 486 40 55 581 .024+.487=.511 CMNH 11338:640:5.67 Chuanjiesaurus ~4.1 “ ~550 ~105 ~38 ~693 .063+.530=.593 Lfch 1001:~10700:13.75 2 M.
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  • The Origin and Early Evolution of Dinosaurs
    Biol. Rev. (2010), 85, pp. 55–110. 55 doi:10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00094.x The origin and early evolution of dinosaurs Max C. Langer1∗,MartinD.Ezcurra2, Jonathas S. Bittencourt1 and Fernando E. Novas2,3 1Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP, Universidade de S˜ao Paulo; Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeir˜ao Preto-SP, Brazil 2Laboratorio de Anatomia Comparada y Evoluci´on de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘‘Bernardino Rivadavia’’, Avda. Angel Gallardo 470, Cdad. de Buenos Aires, Argentina 3CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient´ıficas y T´ecnicas); Avda. Rivadavia 1917 - Cdad. de Buenos Aires, Argentina (Received 28 November 2008; revised 09 July 2009; accepted 14 July 2009) ABSTRACT The oldest unequivocal records of Dinosauria were unearthed from Late Triassic rocks (approximately 230 Ma) accumulated over extensional rift basins in southwestern Pangea. The better known of these are Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis, Pisanosaurus mertii, Eoraptor lunensis,andPanphagia protos from the Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina, and Staurikosaurus pricei and Saturnalia tupiniquim from the Santa Maria Formation, Brazil. No uncontroversial dinosaur body fossils are known from older strata, but the Middle Triassic origin of the lineage may be inferred from both the footprint record and its sister-group relation to Ladinian basal dinosauromorphs. These include the typical Marasuchus lilloensis, more basal forms such as Lagerpeton and Dromomeron, as well as silesaurids: a possibly monophyletic group composed of Mid-Late Triassic forms that may represent immediate sister taxa to dinosaurs. The first phylogenetic definition to fit the current understanding of Dinosauria as a node-based taxon solely composed of mutually exclusive Saurischia and Ornithischia was given as ‘‘all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of birds and Triceratops’’.
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  • Basal Saurischia
    TWO Basal Saurischia MAX C. LANGER The name Saurischia was coined by Seeley in lectures given in et al. 1999b; Langer et al. 2000), as well as various strata in the 1887, published in 1888, to designate those dinosaurs possessing western United States and on the Atlantic Coast of both the a propubic pelvis. This plesiomorphic feature distinguishes them United States and Canada (Olsen et al. 1989; Long and Murry from ornithischians, which have an opisthopubic pelvis. De- 1995; Hunt et al. 1998; Lucas 1998). spite its general acceptance as a taxonomic unit since the pro- Interestingly, while saurischian dinosaurs are abundant in posal of the name (Huene 1932; Romer 1956; Colbert 1964a; Steel Carnian strata and became the dominant component of vari- 1970), the monophyly of Saurischia was heavily questioned in ous Norian faunas, ornithischians are barely represented through the 1960s and 1970s (Charig et al. 1965; Charig 1976b; Reig 1970; this time interval. Pisanosaurus mertii, from the Ischigualasto Romer 1972c; Thulborn 1975; Cruickshank 1979). Its status as a Formation, is the sole reasonably well known Triassic member natural group was, however, fixed by Bakker and Galton (1974), of the group, which only achieved higher abundance and di- Bonaparte (1975b) and, more importantly, Gauthier (1986), versity during Early Jurassic times (Weishampel and Norman who formally established the monophyly of the group. 1989). The taxa discussed in this chapter (table 2.1) are usually con- sidered to be among the oldest known dinosaurs. They include the most basal saurischians, as well as various forms of uncer- Definition and Diagnosis tain affinity once assigned to the group.
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  • The Anatomy and Phylogenetic Relationships of Antetonitrus Ingenipes (Sauropodiformes, Dinosauria): Implications for the Origins of Sauropoda
    THE ANATOMY AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF ANTETONITRUS INGENIPES (SAUROPODIFORMES, DINOSAURIA): IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ORIGINS OF SAUROPODA Blair McPhee A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2013 i ii ABSTRACT A thorough description and cladistic analysis of the Antetonitrus ingenipes type material sheds further light on the stepwise acquisition of sauropodan traits just prior to the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. Although the forelimb of Antetonitrus and other closely related sauropododomorph taxa retains the plesiomorphic morphology typical of a mobile grasping structure, the changes in the weight-bearing dynamics of both the musculature and the architecture of the hindlimb document the progressive shift towards a sauropodan form of graviportal locomotion. Nonetheless, the presence of hypertrophied muscle attachment sites in Antetonitrus suggests the retention of an intermediary form of facultative bipedality. The term Sauropodiformes is adopted here and given a novel definition intended to capture those transitional sauropodomorph taxa occupying a contiguous position on the pectinate line towards Sauropoda. The early record of sauropod diversification and evolution is re- examined in light of the paraphyletic consensus that has emerged regarding the ‘Prosauropoda’ in recent years. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to express sincere gratitude to Adam Yates for providing me with the opportunity to do ‘real’ palaeontology, and also for gladly sharing his considerable knowledge on sauropodomorph osteology and phylogenetics. This project would not have been possible without the continued (and continual) support (both emotionally and financially) of my parents, Alf and Glenda McPhee – Thank you.
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  • Dinosaurs on Earth: Then and Now
    DINOSAURS ON EARTH: THEN AND NOW CFE 3231V OPEN CAPTIONED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 1994 Grade Levels: 6-13+ 25 minutes DESCRIPTION Do dinosaurs still live on earth? Begins with an animated look at the dinosaur eras. Paleontologists, recent fossil discoveries, and skeletal reconstructions reveal characteristics of different dinosaurs. Discover similarities between dinosaurs and today’s animals by comparing their bones, shapes, and behaviors. Discusses Tyrannosaurus rex, Utahraptor, Brachiosaurus, and others. INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS · To present information about the evolution of life from one-celled animals to mammals. · To show how the earth changed over billions of years. · To show how some dinosaurs lived, how they defended themselves, and what they ate. · To illustrate the formation of fossils. · To explain how paleontologists study living animals to learn about dinosaurs. BEFORE SHOWING 1. Preview the video to determine unfamiliar vocabulary and language concepts. 2. Present a basic time line showing the periods and major developments starting with 4.5 billion years ago. 3. Define theory and compare a theory to a fact. DURING SHOWING 1. View the video more than once, with one showing uninterrupted. 2. Pause to add life form names to the time line. 3. Pause during Jim Kirkland’s narrative about the Utahraptor to clarify the subtitles. Due to time constraints, the captions were not able to include all of the information. a. The subtitle 1 ft = 30 cm refers to the length of the claw. 1 b. The subtitle 5 ft = 1.5 m refers to how deep the claw could cut. AFTER SHOWING Discussion Items and Questions 1.
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  • Postcranial Skeletal Pneumaticity in Sauropods and Its
    Postcranial Pneumaticity in Dinosaurs and the Origin of the Avian Lung by Mathew John Wedel B.S. (University of Oklahoma) 1997 A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Biology in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Kevin Padian, Co-chair Professor William Clemens, Co-chair Professor Marvalee Wake Professor David Wake Professor John Gerhart Spring 2007 1 The dissertation of Mathew John Wedel is approved: Co-chair Date Co-chair Date Date Date Date University of California, Berkeley Spring 2007 2 Postcranial Pneumaticity in Dinosaurs and the Origin of the Avian Lung © 2007 by Mathew John Wedel 3 Abstract Postcranial Pneumaticity in Dinosaurs and the Origin of the Avian Lung by Mathew John Wedel Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Biology University of California, Berkeley Professor Kevin Padian, Co-chair Professor William Clemens, Co-chair Among extant vertebrates, postcranial skeletal pneumaticity is present only in birds. In birds, diverticula of the lungs and air sacs pneumatize specific regions of the postcranial skeleton. The relationships among pulmonary components and the regions of the skeleton that they pneumatize form the basis for inferences about the pulmonary anatomy of non-avian dinosaurs. Fossae, foramina and chambers in the postcranial skeletons of pterosaurs and saurischian dinosaurs are diagnostic for pneumaticity. In basal saurischians only the cervical skeleton is pneumatized. Pneumatization by cervical air sacs is the most consilient explanation for this pattern. In more derived sauropods and theropods pneumatization of the posterior dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae indicates that abdominal air sacs were also present.
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  • Skull Remains of the Dinosaur Saturnalia Tupiniquim (Late Triassic, Brazil): with Comments on the Early Evolution of Sauropodomorph Feeding Behaviour
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Skull remains of the dinosaur Saturnalia tupiniquim (Late Triassic, Brazil): With comments on the early evolution of sauropodomorph feeding behaviour 1 2 1 Mario BronzatiID *, Rodrigo T. MuÈ llerID , Max C. Langer * 1 LaboratoÂrio de Paleontologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de a1111111111 São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, 2 Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa PaleontoloÂgica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil a1111111111 a1111111111 * [email protected] (MB); [email protected] (MCL) a1111111111 a1111111111 Abstract Saturnalia tupiniquim is a sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian±c. 233 OPEN ACCESS Ma) Santa Maria Formation of Brazil. Due to its phylogenetic position and age, it is important for studies focusing on the early evolution of both dinosaurs and sauropodomorphs. The Citation: Bronzati M, MuÈller RT, Langer MC (2019) Skull remains of the dinosaur Saturnalia tupiniquim osteology of Saturnalia has been described in a series of papers, but its cranial anatomy (Late Triassic, Brazil): With comments on the early remains mostly unknown. Here, we describe the skull bones of one of its paratypes (only in evolution of sauropodomorph feeding behaviour. the type-series to possess such remains) based on CT Scan data. The newly described ele- PLoS ONE 14(9): e0221387. https://doi.org/ ments allowed estimating the cranial length of Saturnalia and provide additional support for 10.1371/journal.pone.0221387 the presence of a reduced skull (i.e. two thirds of the femoral length) in this taxon, as typical Editor: JuÈrgen Kriwet, University of Vienna, of later sauropodomorphs.
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  • Triassic, Carnian) and the Early Evolution of Sauropodomorpha
    A Basal Sauropodomorph (Dinosauria: Saurischia) from the Ischigualasto Formation (Triassic, Carnian) and the Early Evolution of Sauropodomorpha Ricardo N. Martinez*, Oscar A. Alcober Museo de Ciencias Naturales, San Juan, Argentina Abstract Background: The earliest dinosaurs are from the early Late Triassic (Carnian) of South America. By the Carnian the main clades Saurischia and Ornithischia were already established, and the presence of the most primitive known sauropodomorph Saturnalia suggests also that Saurischia had already diverged into Theropoda and Sauropodomorpha. Knowledge of Carnian sauropodomorphs has been restricted to this single species. Methodology/Principal Findings: We describe a new small sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Ischigualsto Formation (Carnian) in northwest Argentina, Panphagia protos gen. et sp. nov., on the basis of a partial skeleton. The genus and species are characterized by an anteroposteriorly elongated fossa on the base of the anteroventral process of the nasal; wide lateral flange on the quadrate with a large foramen; deep groove on the lateral surface of the lower jaw surrounded by prominent dorsal and ventral ridges; bifurcated posteroventral process of the dentary; long retroarticular process transversally wider than the articular area for the quadrate; oval scars on the lateral surface of the posterior border of the centra of cervical vertebrae; distinct prominences on the neural arc of the anterior cervical vertebra; distal end of the scapular blade nearly three times wider than the neck; scapular blade with an expanded posterodistal corner; and medial lamina of brevis fossa twice as wide as the iliac spine. Conclusions/Significance: We regard Panphagia as the most basal sauropodomorph, which shares the following apomorphies with Saturnalia and more derived sauropodomorphs: basally constricted crowns; lanceolate crowns; teeth of the anterior quarter of the dentary higher than the others; and short posterolateral flange of distal tibia.
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  • The Origin of the Dinosaurs El Origen De Los Dinosaurios
    III Jornadas Internacionales sobre Paleontología de Dinosaurios y su Entorno Salas de los Infantes, Burgos The Origin of the Dinosaurs El origen de los dinosaurios M. J. Benton Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, U.K. e-mail: [email protected] Recibido el 15 de diciembre de 2004, aceptado el 18 de diciembre de 2005. Abstract The origin of the dinosaurs has long been debated. There are two aspects, phylogenetic and ecological-evo- lutionary. Much of the phylogenetic confusion has been resolved by cladistic analysis of basal archosaurs which shows that the dinosaurs originated as part of a major clade Avemetatarsalia/ Ornithodira. Closest relatives of the dinosaurs are small Mid Triassic bipedal animals such as Marasuchus from Argentina. The basal avemetatarsalian is Scleromochlus from the Late Triassic of Scotland. The classic ecological-evolutionary model for the initial radiation of the dinosaurs had been that they competed gradually through the Triassic with precursor groups, and eventually prevailed. More detailed study of the timing of events suggests that the dinosaurs radiated opportunistically in a two-phase model, with expansion of herbivorous sauropodomorphs fi rst in the early Norian, and expansion of large theropods and ornithischians in the Early and Mid Jurassic. Both expansion phases followed extinction events. Key words: Dinosaur, Triassic, origin, opportunism, Eoraptor, Herrerasaurus. Resumen El origen de los dinosaurios ha sido debatido durante mucho tiempo. Hay dos puntos de vista, el fi logenético y el ecológico-evolutivo. La mayor parte de la confusión fi logenética ha sido resuelta por análisis cladístico en arco- saurios basales.
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  • Body-Size Evolution in the Dinosauria
    8 Body-Size Evolution in the Dinosauria Matthew T. Carrano Introduction The evolution of body size and its influence on organismal biology have received scientific attention since the earliest decades of evolutionary study (e.g., Cope, 1887, 1896; Thompson, 1917). Both paleontologists and neontologists have attempted to determine correlations between body size and numerous aspects of life history, with the ultimate goal of docu- menting both the predictive and causal connections involved (LaBarbera, 1986, 1989). These studies have generated an appreciation for the thor- oughgoing interrelationships between body size and nearly every sig- nificant facet of organismal biology, including metabolism (Lindstedt & Calder, 1981; Schmidt-Nielsen, 1984; McNab, 1989), population ecology (Damuth, 1981; Juanes, 1986; Gittleman & Purvis, 1998), locomotion (Mc- Mahon, 1975; Biewener, 1989; Alexander, 1996), and reproduction (Alex- ander, 1996). An enduring focus of these studies has been Cope’s Rule, the notion that body size tends to increase over time within lineages (Kurtén, 1953; Stanley, 1973; Polly, 1998). Such an observation has been made regarding many different clades but has been examined specifically in only a few (MacFadden, 1986; Arnold et al., 1995; Jablonski, 1996, 1997; Trammer & Kaim, 1997, 1999; Alroy, 1998). The discordant results of such analyses have underscored two points: (1) Cope’s Rule does not apply universally to all groups; and (2) even when present, size increases in different clades may reflect very different underlying processes. Thus, the question, “does Cope’s Rule exist?” is better parsed into two questions: “to which groups does Cope’s Rule apply?” and “what process is responsible for it in each?” Several recent works (McShea, 1994, 2000; Jablonski, 1997; Alroy, 1998, 2000a, 2000b) have begun to address these more specific questions, attempting to quantify patterns of body-size evolution in a phylogenetic (rather than strictly temporal) context, as well as developing methods for interpreting the resultant patterns.
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  • Raptors in Action 1 Suggested Pre-Visit Activities
    PROGRAM OVERVIEW TOPIC: Small theropods commonly known as “raptors.” THEME: Explore the adaptations that made raptors unique and successful, like claws, intelligence, vision, speed, and hollow bones. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Razor-sharp teeth and sickle-like claws are just a few of the characteristics that have made raptors famous. Working in groups, students will build a working model of a raptor leg and then bring it to life while competing in a relay race that simulates the hunting techniques of these carnivorous animals. AUDIENCE: Grades 3–6 CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Grade 3 Science: Building with a Variety of Materials Grade 3–6 Math: Patterns and Relations Grade 4 Science: Building Devices and Vehicles that Move Grade 6 Science: Evidence and Investigation PROGRAM ObJECTIVES: 1. Students will understand the adaptations that contributed to the success of small theropods. 2. Students will explore the function of the muscles used in vertebrate movement and the mechanics of how a raptor leg works. 3. Students will understand the function of the raptorial claw. 4. Students will discover connections between small theropod dinosaurs and birds. SUGGESTED PRE-VISIT ACTIVITIES UNDERstANDING CLADIstICS Animals and plants are often referred to as part of a family or group. For example, the dog is part of the canine family (along with wolves, coyotes, foxes, etc.). Scientists group living things together based on relationships to gain insight into where they came from. This helps us identify common ancestors of different organisms. This method of grouping is called “cladistics.” Cladistics is a system that uses branches like a family tree to show how organisms are related to one another.
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  • The Evolution of Sauropod Locomotion
    eight The Evolution of Sauropod Locomotion MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF A SECONDARILY QUADRUPEDAL RADIATION Matthew T. Carrano Sauropod dinosaur locomotion, fruitful but also have tended to become canal- like that of many extinct groups, has his- ized. In this regard, the words of paleontologist torically been interpreted in light of potential W. C. Coombs (1975:23) remain particularly apt, modern analogues. As these analogies—along as much for their still-relevant summary of the with our understanding of them—have shifted, status quo in sauropod locomotor research as perspectives on sauropod locomotion have fol- for their warning to future workers: lowed. Thus early paleontologists focused on the “whalelike” aspects of these presumably aquatic It is a subtle trap, the ease with which an entire reptilian suborder can have its habits and habi- taxa (e.g., Osborn 1898), reluctantly relinquish- tat preferences deduced by comparison not ing such ideas as further discoveries began to with all proboscideans, not with the family characterize sauropod anatomy as more terres- Elephantidae, not with a particular genus or trial. Although this debate continued for over a even a single species, but by comparison with century, the essentially terrestrial nature of certain populations of a single subspecies. Deciding that a particular modern animal is sauropod limb design was recognized by the most like sauropods is no guarantee of solving early 1900s (Hatcher 1903; Riggs 1903). Aside the problem of sauropod behavior. from a few poorly received attempts (e.g., Hay 1908; Tornier 1909), comparisons have usually Similarly, modern analogues play a limited been made between sauropods and terrestrial role in illuminating the evolution of sauropod mammals, rather than reptiles.
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