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The Palaeontology thread |
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#126 |
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...and now for a baby mammoth:
A perfectly preserved baby mammoth which died 42,000 years ago has been unveiled at the Natural History Museum in London. Named Lyuba by the Siberian deer herder who discovered her in 2007, the specimen is 130cm tall and weighs 50kg. Palaeontologist Prof Adrian Lister described seeing her for the first time as an "incredible experience". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27477167
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#127 |
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Magnificent animal!
If only we could rediscover some of these beautiful animals like we did the coelacanth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth#Life_history http://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Inner-F.../dp/0141027584 |
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#128 |
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Mars
Posts: 1,489
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Quote:
It;s the Whale Sharks I feel sorry for. All mouth, no action.
Godzilla Shark Had Teeth on Its Lips Quote:
A CT scan of the newly discovered Godzilla shark revealed that the impressive predator, which lived 300 million years ago, had teeth on its lips. http://news.discovery.com/animals/sh...ips-140519.htmThe shark resembled the fictional Godzilla due to its back spines, teeth and other features. It must have left victims in a bloody mess before they went into its stomach. Naughty fishie.
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#129 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 9,275
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Quote:
WARNING:
Godzilla Shark Had Teeth on Its Lips
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#130 |
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Join Date: May 2014
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Quote:
Sounds like a girl I went on a date with many moons ago.
![]() My girlfriend ran away from me about 88,000 years ago but I found her a few years later under a microscope. She ran away again soon after and I've never seen her since.
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#131 |
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Already posted on here last night!
![]() Seriously, the following podcasts and websites do feature palaeontology items now and again: http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/ http://www.sciencemag.org/site/multimedia/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01z46jh http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment/ http://www.newscientist.com/ ...and now for some audio treats... Fossils The KT Boundary The Permian-Triassic Boundary The Neanderthals Human Evolution Human Origins What a good way to spend a bank holiday!
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#132 |
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Ah well. One cannot have enough of baby mammoths although having three for lunch is being a bit too greedy!
Seriously, the following podcasts and websites do feature palaeontology items now and again: http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/ http://www.sciencemag.org/site/multimedia/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01z46jh http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment/ http://www.newscientist.com/ ...and now for some audio treats... Fossils The KT Boundary The Permian-Triassic Boundary The Neanderthals Human Evolution Human Origins What a good way to spend a bank holiday! ![]() ![]() Earlier on here I have posted several links to some excellent palaeo-blogs as well. |
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#133 |
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Trill o bite!? I always thought of it as try low bite. They must be wrong.
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#134 |
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Trill o bite!? I always thought of it as try low bite. They must be wrong.
Dip-lo-docus or Dip-plod-icus for example. Here is a nice image of one of the great turtles of the Cretaceous - Archelon ischyros. http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/...Reptiles-3.jpg And a size comparison of the Protostegidae. ![]() http://palaeos.com/vertebrates/chelo...tostegidae.gif |
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#135 |
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The biggest snake that ever existed on the planet - Titanoboa cerrejonensis.
This life-size almost 15 metre long restoration by the Smithsonian institute is swallowing a crocodile whole. ![]() http://newsdesk.si.edu/sites/default...anoboa_284.jpg And here is a nice little article on Wired about the super serpent. http://www.wired.com/2014/05/absurd-...ic-crocodiles/ http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200902/r336505_1525560.jpg If anything it may have been even heavier than the initial estimates and the weight figure given is for the holotype at around 12.8 metres. https://public.dm2304.livefilestore....rdrts=75761451 A true monster that makes the snake in the horror film Anaconda look like an earthworm!
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#136 |
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The biggest snake that ever existed on the planet - Titanoboa cerrejonensis.
This life-size almost 15 metre long restoration by the Smithsonian institute is swallowing a crocodile whole. ![]() http://newsdesk.si.edu/sites/default...anoboa_284.jpg And here is a nice little article on Wired about the super serpent. http://www.wired.com/2014/05/absurd-...ic-crocodiles/ A true monster that makes the snake in the horror film Anaconda look like an earthworm! ![]() This snake measured 48ft in length!
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#137 |
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I recorded a programme about this monster in 2012 on CH4, titled 'The World's Largest Snake'.
This snake measured 48ft in length! ![]() Here is an extract from the paper which suggests a maximum size of 15.6 metres and such a gigantic snake would weigh well over two tons. That is one massive constrictor, it is just really awesome that this animal actually existed. "Titanoboa cerrejonensis from the Cerrejón Formation (middle to late Paleocene; 58- 60 My) of Colombia, is the largest known snake. The taxon was originally diagnosed, assigned to the clade Boinae, and estimated to be approximately 12.8 m (±2.18 m) in total body length on the basis of precloacal vertebral morphology and size, but the absence of cranial remains prohibited a more precise size estimate and robust phylogenetic hypothesis. Recent fieldwork in the type locality has resulted in the recovery of several new specimens of Titanoboa including parts of the cranium and mandible (maxillae, palatine, pterygoid, quadrate, dentary, and compound elements) associated with partial axial skeletons. We estimate skull length from cranial elements to be 40 cm, corresponding to a total body length of 14.3 m (±1.28 m) based on the scaling relationship of head length to body length in the extant boine Eunectes. Phylogenetic analyses of Titanoboa and extant macrostomatan snakes using cranial and postcranial osteology, and including analyses incorporating a molecular scaffold for extant taxa, supports boine affinities of Titanoboa, based on the extreme reduction of the palatine choanal and posteromedial processes as well as vertebral anatomy. Within Boinae, Titanoboa shares a close relationship with Pacific Island-Madagascan taxa. These results are the first historical evidence linking Neotropical and Old World boines, and constrain divergence timing of the clades to no younger than 58 My. Cranial elements of Titanoboa possess unique features relative to other boids, including high palatal and marginal tooth position counts, low-angled quadrate orientation, and reduced palatine-pterygoid and pterygoid-quadrate articulations. These characters, combined with weakly ankylosed teeth in Titanoboa, are characteristic of piscivorous feeding ecology in extant caenophidian snakes. Preservation in the large-scale fluvial depositional environments of the Cerrejón Formation, combined with the recovery of associated fossils of large dipnoan and osteoglossomorph fishes, also suggests a dominantly piscivorous feeding ecology for Titanoboa, which is unique among living and fossil boids." |
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#138 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
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Quote:
That's the one.
Here is an extract from the paper which suggests a maximum size of 15.6 metres and such a gigantic snake would weigh well over two tons. That is one massive constrictor, it is just really awesome that this animal actually existed. "Titanoboa cerrejonensis from the Cerrejón Formation (middle to late Paleocene; 58- 60 My) of Colombia, is the largest known snake. The taxon was originally diagnosed, assigned to the clade Boinae, and estimated to be approximately 12.8 m (±2.18 m) in total body length on the basis of precloacal vertebral morphology and size, but the absence of cranial remains prohibited a more precise size estimate and robust phylogenetic hypothesis. Recent fieldwork in the type locality has resulted in the recovery of several new specimens of Titanoboa including parts of the cranium and mandible (maxillae, palatine, pterygoid, quadrate, dentary, and compound elements) associated with partial axial skeletons. We estimate skull length from cranial elements to be 40 cm, corresponding to a total body length of 14.3 m (±1.28 m) based on the scaling relationship of head length to body length in the extant boine Eunectes. Phylogenetic analyses of Titanoboa and extant macrostomatan snakes using cranial and postcranial osteology, and including analyses incorporating a molecular scaffold for extant taxa, supports boine affinities of Titanoboa, based on the extreme reduction of the palatine choanal and posteromedial processes as well as vertebral anatomy. Within Boinae, Titanoboa shares a close relationship with Pacific Island-Madagascan taxa. These results are the first historical evidence linking Neotropical and Old World boines, and constrain divergence timing of the clades to no younger than 58 My. Cranial elements of Titanoboa possess unique features relative to other boids, including high palatal and marginal tooth position counts, low-angled quadrate orientation, and reduced palatine-pterygoid and pterygoid-quadrate articulations. These characters, combined with weakly ankylosed teeth in Titanoboa, are characteristic of piscivorous feeding ecology in extant caenophidian snakes. Preservation in the large-scale fluvial depositional environments of the Cerrejón Formation, combined with the recovery of associated fossils of large dipnoan and osteoglossomorph fishes, also suggests a dominantly piscivorous feeding ecology for Titanoboa, which is unique among living and fossil boids." All I know is that this monster is a snake I would definitely not like to have come across if I lived in its time! |
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#139 |
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Wow, too many big words for me to handle! You're one truly intelligent person.
All I know is that this monster is a snake I would definitely not like to have come across if I lived in its time! ![]() Here is an image of the great variety of Ceratopsian (horned dinosaurs) species - I could not find any examples of this wonderful painting any larger so the names are a bit small. http://archosaurmusings.files.wordpr...sians_1300.jpg |
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#140 |
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Thank you.
![]() Here is an image of the great variety of Ceratopsian (horned dinosaurs) species - I could not find any examples of this wonderful painting any larger so the names are a bit small. http://archosaurmusings.files.wordpr...sians_1300.jpg .
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#141 |
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One of the interesting things is the large number of dinosaur finds that are now coming out of China http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...lcano-pompeii/, Mongolia http://news.discovery.com/animals/di...lia-131105.htm and, most recently, Argentina http://www.interpatagonia.com/paleon...llazgos_i.html.
It's also possible that a long ago discovered dinosaur skeleton in China could have given rise to the myths about dragons. Finally, there are plenty of documentaries available on Youtube about palaeontology in general and dinosaurs in particular. |
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#142 |
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Nice drawings keyser, eerily reminiscent of birds a lot of them
.![]() Since the fills and horns may have been primarily for sexual display some artists have really gone imaginative on this topic ! Huge eyes spots on the frill (like a peacock) was a common favourite several years ago.
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#143 |
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One of the interesting things is the large number of dinosaur finds that are now coming out of China http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...lcano-pompeii/, Mongolia http://news.discovery.com/animals/di...lia-131105.htm and, most recently, Argentina http://www.interpatagonia.com/paleon...llazgos_i.html.
It's also possible that a long ago discovered dinosaur skeleton in China could have given rise to the myths about dragons. Finally, there are plenty of documentaries available on Youtube about palaeontology in general and dinosaurs in particular.
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#144 |
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Time for some (early) human fossils (a news story from last year): Quote:
The spectacular fossilised skull of an ancient human ancestor that died nearly two million years ago has forced scientists to rethink the story of early human evolution. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2...uman-evolutionExperts believe the skull is one of the most important fossil finds to date, but it has proved as controversial as it is stunning. Analysis of the skull and other remains at Dmanisi suggests that scientists have been too ready to name separate species of human ancestors in Africa. Many of those species may now have to be wiped from the textbooks. The consequence of this would be to trim the branches of the human ancestral tree to allow for variation within a single species (Homo erectus) rather than split off separate species (H rudolfensis, H gautengensis, H ergaster and possibly H habilis). |
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#145 |
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Time for some (early) human fossils (a news story from last year):
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2...uman-evolution The consequence of this would be to trim the branches of the human ancestral tree to allow for variation within a single species (Homo erectus) rather than split off separate species (H rudolfensis, H gautengensis, H ergaster and possibly H habilis). ![]() Whatever you do not not show them to certain posters on here though!
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#146 |
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Lovely stuff again.
Keyser (or anyone else)- got any good dino docs to recommend on youtube etc? |
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#147 |
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#148 |
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I recorded a programme about this monster in 2012 on CH4, titled 'The World's Largest Snake'.
This snake measured 48ft in length! ![]()
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#149 |
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Lovely stuff again.
Keyser (or anyone else)- got any good dino docs to recommend on youtube etc? In the last couple of years Planet Dinosaur and Jurassic CSI for the science. And if you want a laugh and dinosaurs with superb graphics and personalities (not to be taken too seriously but sometimes really wonderful) - Dinosaur Revolution. ![]() http://www.amazon.co.uk/Planet-Dinos.../dp/B005F3DFR2 http://www.amazon.co.uk/National-Geo...RTCZHQ5GE12KNW http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinosaur-Rev...aur+revolution |
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#150 |
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There is never enough time on here to post all the incredible discoveries coming out of China - the place has been a veritable treasure trove of spectacular fossils over the last few decades - especially the feathered theropods.
![]() Quote:
Time for some (early) human fossils (a news story from last year):
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2...uman-evolution The consequence of this would be to trim the branches of the human ancestral tree to allow for variation within a single species (Homo erectus) rather than split off separate species (H rudolfensis, H gautengensis, H ergaster and possibly H habilis). Links: http://www.newscientist.com/article/...l#.U4UH-7xUdyA http://www.sciencemag.org/content/33...1-3079b157d697 http://www.sciencemag.org/content/33...1084/suppl/DC1 http://www.nature.com/news/new-dna-a...sovans-1.11331 |
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