365 lines
11 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
365 lines
11 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
science
|
|
dinosaurs
|
|
8341141
|
|
-----
|
|
# Dinosaur discovery: 10 recent prehistoric discoveries
|
|
|
|
## Our knowledge of dinosaurs is increasing all the time. Here are a list of
|
|
the most recent discoveries.
|
|
|
|
![Tyrannosaurus Rex was a lean mean hunter and warm blooded, news discoveries
|
|
suggest][1]
|
|
|
|
Tyrannosaurus Rex was a lean mean hunter and warm blooded, news discoveries
|
|
suggest
|
|
|
|
7:00AM GMT 23 Feb 2011
|
|
|
|
[Comments][2]
|
|
|
|
**Dinosaur extinction**
|
|
|
|
Dinosaurs survived for more than 700,000 years after the earth was hit by a
|
|
massive meteorite originally believed to have caused their extinction,
|
|
according to new research.
|
|
|
|
Tests on a fossilised bone of a plant eating dinosaur discovered in New Mexico
|
|
found that it was only 64.8 million years old.
|
|
|
|
[Scientists at the university of Alberta][3], Canada, said it is possible that
|
|
in some areas the vegetation wasn't wiped out and a number of hadrosaur
|
|
species survived.
|
|
|
|
## Related Articles
|
|
|
|
* [Dinosaur discovery: 'thunder-thighs' dinosaur found in museum
|
|
basement][4]
|
|
|
|
28 Feb 2011
|
|
|
|
* [Remains of giant flying reptile found in Africa][5]
|
|
|
|
27 May 2010
|
|
|
|
* [Early bird species 'could not flap wings'][6]
|
|
|
|
14 May 2010
|
|
|
|
* [Asteroid ended dinosaurs][7]
|
|
|
|
04 Mar 2010
|
|
|
|
* [Early dinosaurs had yellow and white stripes][8]
|
|
|
|
28 Jan 2010
|
|
|
|
* [Dinosaurs 'older than thought'][9]
|
|
|
|
03 Mar 2010
|
|
|
|
**T. rex only hunted large prey**
|
|
|
|
Tyrannosaurus rex only targeted large prey, according to a study that
|
|
dismisses claims that the animal was primarily a scavenger.
|
|
|
|
Scientists argue that [T. rex really was a formidable hunter][10], roaming
|
|
areas several times the size of Greater London in search of prey.
|
|
|
|
In this way, T. rex could be compared with polar bears and lions, both of
|
|
which travel large distances to find their next meal said experts at the
|
|
Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
|
|
|
|
**Most dinosaurs were vegetarian **
|
|
|
|
Most dinosaurs were vegetarian rather than meat-eating beasts, research
|
|
suggests.
|
|
|
|
[A new study][11] from the Chicago Field Museum of the diet of 90 species of
|
|
theropod dinosaurs challenged the conventional view that nearly all theropods
|
|
hunted prey, especially those closest to the ancestors of birds.
|
|
|
|
Rather it showed that among the most birdlike dinosaurs known as coelurosaurs
|
|
plant eating was a common way of life.
|
|
|
|
Their diet may have also helped them survive and exploit new environments
|
|
becoming the most successful group of dinosaurs throughout the Cretaceous
|
|
Period, 145-65 million years ago
|
|
|
|
**Pterosaurs 'flew like paper aeroplanes'**
|
|
|
|
Pterosaurs flew like paper aeroplanes, gliding slowly on tropical breezes and
|
|
landing softly to protect their delicate bones, [new research suggests. ][12]
|
|
|
|
The flying reptiles, which lived at the same time of the dinosaurs, included
|
|
some species the size of light aircraft. But for all their terrifying
|
|
appearance, they may have been the most gentle of aviators.
|
|
|
|
Scientists at University of Bristol built fossil-based models of pterosaur
|
|
wing sections and tested them in a wind tunnel.
|
|
|
|
They found that pterosaurs would have been too slow and flexible to brave
|
|
turbulent stormy winds, as albatrosses do in the southern ocean today.
|
|
|
|
**Prehistoric 'terror bird' pecked creatures to death **
|
|
|
|
Scientists discovered a prehistoric bird that used its hooked beak to peck its
|
|
prey to death.
|
|
|
|
The ninety-pound flightless birds, which lived in South America,[ wielded
|
|
their giant, sharp beaks in quick jabs,][13] repeatedly backing away and
|
|
jabbing again, according to a new study.
|
|
|
|
The tactics of the "terror bird", officially called Andalgalornis, were
|
|
dictated partly by its size and emu-like composition, which made hunting any
|
|
other way extremely difficult and possibly fatal, scientists said.
|
|
|
|
"These guys were not sluggers; they couldn't go in and grapple with prey. They
|
|
had to stand back and dance around and make hatchet-like jabs," said Lawrence
|
|
Witmer of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
|
|
|
|
**Dinosaur mating rituals were more elaborate than peacocks**
|
|
|
|
Prehistoric flying dinosaurs had more elaborate mating displays than modern-
|
|
day peacocks.
|
|
|
|
[New research into pterosaurs and pelycosaurs][14] - the fin-backed ancestors
|
|
of modern mammals - have shown their elaborate headrests and sails were
|
|
developed for the purpose of sexual selection.
|
|
|
|
Until now, many thought these appendages regulated body temperature or helped
|
|
them steer while they were flying.
|
|
|
|
A team from the universities of Hull, Portsmouth and Western Australia found
|
|
that prehistoric pterosaurs evolved elaborate headrests to help them attract
|
|
the best mates while the pelycosaurs, a group of our own distant ancestors,
|
|
developed fantastic sails along their backs to oust sexual competitors.
|
|
|
|
**Dinosaurs had mohawks and freckles**
|
|
|
|
Dinosaurs were not all ginger after all - some had a rusty brown mohawk and
|
|
freckles, scientists have discovered.
|
|
|
|
Researchers claimed last month that they could conclusively reveal for the
|
|
first time the true colour of feathered dinosaurs that walked the earth more
|
|
than 100 million years ago. It was "russet and orange".
|
|
|
|
But now another study has come up with even more exciting news - others had
|
|
"rufous" or ready brown plumage.
|
|
|
|
[The scientists at Yale University ][15]revealed their discovery in the
|
|
journal Science and created an illustration of how the dinosaur would have
|
|
looked using microscopic clues from a fossil found in China.
|
|
|
|
**Early dinosaurs had yellow and white stripes**
|
|
|
|
Early feathered dinosaurs, the ancestors of birds, were covered in yellow and
|
|
white stripes claim British scientists who reveal the true colours of the
|
|
prehistoric creatures for the first time.
|
|
|
|
The dinosaur Sinosauropteryx, which lived 100 million years ago, had simple
|
|
bristles - precursors of feathers - in alternate orange and white rings down
|
|
its tail, they discovered.
|
|
|
|
Scientists also discovered feathers came before wings, so may not have
|
|
originally been used for flight or insulation but for display.
|
|
|
|
Mike Benton, professor of palaeontology at the University of Bristol, said:
|
|
"Our research provides extraordinary insights into the origin of feathers.
|
|
|
|
"In particular, it helps to resolve a long-standing debate about the original
|
|
function of feathers - whether they were used for flight, insulation, or
|
|
display."
|
|
|
|
**Dinosaurs had venomous bite**
|
|
|
|
Dinosaurs from a species related to the Velociraptor have been found to have
|
|
had a poisonous bite.
|
|
|
|
[Scientists have discovered ][16]a fossil of a feathered ''raptor'' with
|
|
grooved fangs that almost certainly delivered venom.
|
|
|
|
They believe other members of the dromaeosaur family may have also killed or
|
|
immobilised their prey with poison.
|
|
|
|
Sinornithosaurus was a close relative of the Velociraptor, one of the stars of
|
|
the movie Jurassic Park.
|
|
|
|
Although birdlike and about the size of a turkey, it did not fly and was not
|
|
an early bird. But scientists believe it may have preyed on ancient birds 128
|
|
million years ago, using its long fangs to penetrate their plumage.
|
|
|
|
**Dinosaurs were 'hot-blooded' killers**
|
|
|
|
Far from the "terrible lizard" that their Greek name implies, dinosaurs were
|
|
closer to humans than cold-blooded reptiles, a new study suggests.
|
|
|
|
[Creatures such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex][17] were warm blooded creatures with
|
|
athletic high metabolisms that could survive in all kinds of cold and harsh
|
|
conditions.
|
|
|
|
New evidence appears to confirm that the ancient creatures were endothermic,
|
|
or warm-blooded, like their modern descendants - birds.
|
|
|
|
Far from being lumbering slow beasts that boosted their energy levels by
|
|
basking in the sun, they were likely to have been agile and active.
|
|
|
|
But being warm-blooded would have come at a price, because it requires a lot
|
|
of feeding.
|
|
|
|
If food became scarce at the time the dinosaurs became extinct 65 million
|
|
years ago, this could have made it harder for them to survive.
|
|
|
|
The US scientists led by Dr Herman Pontzer at the University of Washington, St
|
|
Louis, based their findings on the estimated amount of energy dinosaurs must
|
|
have expended moving about.
|
|
|
|
[X][18] Share & bookmark
|
|
|
|
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
|
|
|
|
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
|
|
|
|
[What are these?][19]
|
|
|
|
* Share: [Share][18] [ ][20] [ ][21]
|
|
|
|
[Tweet][22]
|
|
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/dinosaurs/8341141/Dinosaur-discovery-10
|
|
-recent-prehistoric-discoveries.html
|
|
|
|
Telegraph
|
|
|
|
## [Dinosaurs][23]
|
|
|
|
* ### [News »][24]
|
|
|
|
* ### [UK News »][25]
|
|
|
|
* ### [Science News »][26]
|
|
|
|
In science
|
|
|
|
[![Model of Tyrannosaurus rex's: Dinosaurs the 'couch potatoes' of prehistoric
|
|
world ][27] ][28]
|
|
|
|
### [Tyrannosaurus Rex: the cannibal][28]
|
|
|
|
[![A bizarre dinosaur with a ''crown of horns'' has been discovered by
|
|
scientists. ][29] ][30]
|
|
|
|
### [Horned dinosaurs discovered][30]
|
|
|
|
[![An artist's impression of Pakasuchus][31] ][32]
|
|
|
|
### [Cat-like crocodile roamed earth][32]
|
|
|
|
[![Mojoceratops, a relative of the triceratops which lived 75 million years
|
|
ago. Mojoceratops, the frilly dinosaur named over beers][33] ][34]
|
|
|
|
### [The 'Mojoceratops' is named][34]
|
|
|
|
[X][18] Share & bookmark
|
|
|
|
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
|
|
|
|
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
|
|
|
|
[What are these?][19]
|
|
|
|
Share:
|
|
|
|
* [ ][18]
|
|
|
|
* [ ][20]
|
|
|
|
* [ ][21]
|
|
|
|
* [Tweet][22]
|
|
|
|
* Advertisement
|
|
|
|
![][35]
|
|
|
|
telegraphuk
|
|
|
|
Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][36] [blog
|
|
comments powered by Disqus][37]
|
|
|
|
[![Follow The Telegraph on social media][38]][39]
|
|
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
Science Most Viewed
|
|
|
|
* TODAY
|
|
|
|
* PAST WEEK
|
|
|
|
* PAST MONTH
|
|
|
|
1. [Electrons are almost perfectly round, scientists discover][40]
|
|
|
|
2. [Air France Flight 447: a history of flight recorders][41]
|
|
|
|
3. [The Voynich Manuscript: will we ever be able to read this book?][42]
|
|
|
|
4. [Mars rover Spirit: How not to get stuck on Mars][43]
|
|
|
|
5. [Air France Flight 447 - will all be revealed?][44]
|
|
|
|
1. [Electrons are almost perfectly round, scientists discover][40]
|
|
|
|
2. [The Voynich Manuscript: will we ever be able to read this book?][42]
|
|
|
|
3. [Amazonian tribe has no calendar and no concept of time][45]
|
|
|
|
4. [We stare for longer at people with bad reputations][46]
|
|
|
|
5. [Giant asteroid heading close to Earth][47]
|
|
|
|
1. [Stephen Hawking: 'heaven is a fairy story for people afraid of the
|
|
dark'][48]
|
|
|
|
2. [Giant asteroid heading close to Earth][47]
|
|
|
|
3. [Scientists discover habitable Earth-like planet][49]
|
|
|
|
4. [Electrons are almost perfectly round, scientists discover][40]
|
|
|
|
5. [Air France Flight 447 - will all be revealed?][44]
|
|
|
|
[EDITOR'S CHOICE »][50]
|
|
|
|
### [Gil Scott-Heron: 'A voice for Shakespeare'][51]
|
|
|
|
[![Gil Scott-Heron][52]][51]
|
|
|
|
Composer, musician, poet and author whose writing provided a vivid commentary
|
|
on the black American experience.
|
|
|
|
### [Beekeeping diary: the new colonies arrive][53]
|
|
|
|
### [Spectacular light show dazzles Sydney][54]
|
|
|
|
### [WS Gilbert: a knight for our times][55]
|
|
|
|
### [The Telegraph's Matt is Hay Festival star][56]
|
|
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
[TELEGRAPH JOBS »][57]
|
|
|
|
* [Courses][58]
|
|
|
|
* [Services][59]
|
|
|
|
* [Science Jobs][60]
|
|
|
|
Loading
|
|
|
|
[Find a course with Telegraph Courses][61]
|
|
|
|
var puffs_8255319 = new Array();
|
|
|