tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33379341484829556832024-03-19T03:24:17.167-06:00The Natural WorldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.comBlogger279125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-68851782367121563312016-05-27T12:11:00.001-06:002016-05-27T15:17:13.890-06:00The Natural World Has Moved!There's a lot of very exciting things going on over here at The Natural World! For starters, we have moved to a new domain name, you can now follow us at <a href="https://thenaturalworldconnections.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">https://thenaturalworldconnections.wordpress.com/</span></a>. The new blog gives me a fresh start, and more flexibility with how I can display the images that I upload to the blog. I am going to be keeping this blog here in its current capacity, with the caution that a number of my older posts do not adhere to the stricter levels of accuracy and discipline that I will have on the new blog. So enjoy the old posts, but take the information contained within them with a grain of salt. I hope, at one point, to go back through the blog and indicate which posts I still fully approve of. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The logo for the newly improved blog! Check us out at <a href="http://thenaturalworldconnections.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://thenaturalworldconnections.wordpress.com</span></a></td></tr>
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I have also started The Natural World Podcast, which (if all goes according to plan) should be accessible on iTunes very soon, and I will also upload the episodes in a playlist on my YouTube channel. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs2oGoA58Ne3Vfx5OUd0UuOXkwoqQs1Zl" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a> is a link for the playlist, and you can check out the first episode below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9g4qbkuvqE8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9g4qbkuvqE8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
In another playlist on my YouTube channel, I have been uploading my Semester at Sea videos that I made of the voyage (you can find the playlist link by clicking <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs2oGoA58Ne1rSCcmvrloNONaFnAGUJDq" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>). Unfortunately, since I was in the middle of the ocean in areas that didn't really have Internet access for most of the semester, I didn't get around to uploading these videos until just a week ago, which was when I discovered that many of the songs I used in the background are copyrighted in such a way that the audio tracks are simply removed from the videos, making them strange, fast-paced silent movies. Nevertheless, check the videos out, as they are visually appealing, even without the audio tracks. Below is a link to one of the best videos in the series, from South Africa!<br />
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I've got some other exciting projects in the works as well, and I will be sure to keep you updated on all of them! In the meantime, make sure to follow us over to Wordpress, and follow the YouTube channel, as well!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com488tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-52230377494351248702016-03-18T00:30:00.002-06:002016-03-18T00:30:39.249-06:00Where Have I Been? SAS Update: KrugerHello all, it's been awhile. Talking about it isn't always my style (Zayn reference), but today it is. I've been on the study abroad program called Semester at Sea since the fifth of January, and I will continue to be sometime into May. Access to the Internet is very limited, but I do have a little bit of wifi to spare here in Kruger National Park in South Africa, so I thought that I might share with you guys some of the things that I've gotten to do and see in the last week or two!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wild Burchell's zebra (<i>Equus burchelli antiquorum</i>) in Kruger National Park!</td></tr>
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To get from India to South Africa, we crossed the Indian Ocean, during which time we saw lots of marine life! Below is a picture of one of the two sea turtles that I spotted during this portion of the voyage.</div>
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About halfway through the passage, we stopped for a day at the island nation of Mauritius, a small volcanic island that was once home to the flightless pigeon, the dodo. It was a beautiful day, I had a Field Lab with my Marine Biology class, so we went and explored one of the mangrove areas on the coast of the island, and then went snorkeling at one of the coral reefs!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Mauritius's beautiful beaches. You can see mangrove trees in the right of the photograph.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIteubJV4fmIV0WVRP-ynF56SVaQU9m2m7h9Kvy-ygxo9eUST8zGXgQxonZsqyFosfb0NQTFO8XUiKC73s2jU_dPkcqlu6SOMJUPVi5Z11w5X8gpPn5n-NgJIt8BH_ct1OwQiAtMRvcQ/s1600/04+Sugarcane+fields+and+mountains+on+the+island+of+Mauritius+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIteubJV4fmIV0WVRP-ynF56SVaQU9m2m7h9Kvy-ygxo9eUST8zGXgQxonZsqyFosfb0NQTFO8XUiKC73s2jU_dPkcqlu6SOMJUPVi5Z11w5X8gpPn5n-NgJIt8BH_ct1OwQiAtMRvcQ/s400/04+Sugarcane+fields+and+mountains+on+the+island+of+Mauritius+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mauritius was a very beautiful and green island, reminded me a lot of Hawaii, which to be honest is the only other random island I've been to in the middle of the ocean, so I guess that makes sense. </td></tr>
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Dolphins are not too uncommon, especially once we get towards the shores of whatever our next port is. I actually saw a lot of marine life the closer we got to Cape Town, whose waters are very productive. Saw several large pods of dolphins, a few seals, and two sharks, as well as a large number of birds (but alas, no penguins, at least not yet). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMWBximEXThyphenhyphenXqI5vt-MTAXPPY_Y7OGnnHqDdV70vu3Mb7WsNDg5mFo4wsqXSxGc1gFla8rt8EszcAKOVPO6FgThCAVLEDIwmjRvRT5qCLxPW0LlOGXxxul65Mv8FsQoBxux6HQruIA/s1600/06+Diving+Dolphins+in+the+Indian+Ocean+a+few+days+away+from+Cape+Town%252C+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMWBximEXThyphenhyphenXqI5vt-MTAXPPY_Y7OGnnHqDdV70vu3Mb7WsNDg5mFo4wsqXSxGc1gFla8rt8EszcAKOVPO6FgThCAVLEDIwmjRvRT5qCLxPW0LlOGXxxul65Mv8FsQoBxux6HQruIA/s400/06+Diving+Dolphins+in+the+Indian+Ocean+a+few+days+away+from+Cape+Town%252C+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A leaping seal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkX8QIioszjqgWGsQVp63Qu3kAQA6xGYVAHBEVL3YCbtKvq9KpQFeOLF8C88mf1SQR7Y647or_DSVymBJAzvn5aYcEBnkedKNx1hQNe_gkfdfaV5LRTVU_hLv0v3BruqBh4ubhJRXZw/s1600/08+Hammerhead+shark+in+the+Indian+Ocean+a+few+days+away+from+Cape+Town%252C+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkX8QIioszjqgWGsQVp63Qu3kAQA6xGYVAHBEVL3YCbtKvq9KpQFeOLF8C88mf1SQR7Y647or_DSVymBJAzvn5aYcEBnkedKNx1hQNe_gkfdfaV5LRTVU_hLv0v3BruqBh4ubhJRXZw/s400/08+Hammerhead+shark+in+the+Indian+Ocean+a+few+days+away+from+Cape+Town%252C+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A species of hammerhead shark, right next to the ship!</td></tr>
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Below is a picture of my friend, Michael Collett (Big Mike) on one of the mountains surrounding Cape Town. For much of our first day in South Africa (three days ago), we went and explored Cape Town, and I also got to poop into the natural history museum to check out their paleontology section!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHywNmDwipUViBB05bJQ6Bj7bRjchMKFJNoxPgCeiNNxvW-3tl_8Pprz3fAUMjPJmvRA7mYZHZbxBn-zr0vAj6wBsKKem2vTL3WGqmV3brAuR_Fva9lKCRiuSbXyfJDcIcp34CJFSWXQ/s1600/10+Myself+next+to+the+mounted+skeletons+of+a+Suchomimus+and+juvenile+Jobaria+in+the+Iziko+Natural+History+Museum+in+Cape+Town%252C+South+Africa+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHywNmDwipUViBB05bJQ6Bj7bRjchMKFJNoxPgCeiNNxvW-3tl_8Pprz3fAUMjPJmvRA7mYZHZbxBn-zr0vAj6wBsKKem2vTL3WGqmV3brAuR_Fva9lKCRiuSbXyfJDcIcp34CJFSWXQ/s400/10+Myself+next+to+the+mounted+skeletons+of+a+Suchomimus+and+juvenile+Jobaria+in+the+Iziko+Natural+History+Museum+in+Cape+Town%252C+South+Africa+.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself next to a mounted skeleton of the spinosaurid <i>Suchomimus</i>, attacking a juvenile <i>Jobaria</i>, a type of long-necked sauropod.</td></tr>
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On my second through fourth days in South Africa (the fourth actually being today), we flew to Kruger National Park to do a safari! I haven't downloaded my pictures from the second, full day yet (we saw a lot of cool animals yet), so these are just from our two or so hour safari on the first night!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KVTnr8ILjX78dSOD978vGN0LueGEXmt6Nvn0bQ_xzInadhZ_KOdSXljg7DrHosgiJMkxnwofz_F2e4uQZPsf0FZ6plhdpqe0Jo16XBJQ6T0bmuca0wF8Q3BTyTZTXyJBpC0BgBYwsg/s1600/11+Wild+Burchell%2527s+zebra+Equus+burchelli+antiquorum+and+impala+Apyceros+melampus+in+Kruger+National+Park+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KVTnr8ILjX78dSOD978vGN0LueGEXmt6Nvn0bQ_xzInadhZ_KOdSXljg7DrHosgiJMkxnwofz_F2e4uQZPsf0FZ6plhdpqe0Jo16XBJQ6T0bmuca0wF8Q3BTyTZTXyJBpC0BgBYwsg/s400/11+Wild+Burchell%2527s+zebra+Equus+burchelli+antiquorum+and+impala+Apyceros+melampus+in+Kruger+National+Park+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small herd of zebra and impala (<i>Apyceros melampus</i>).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreVdH17sGBAhdV8sHHH_i6e0ihin9QO1FT5XbaVY8PDQEhm8EztvOa40JdAPKBAQPkG08PmKc6cPScxIUR3qrMS49It8RthFs5i1q9qGIke7BqPfMDoPoRHkryPprV6C03ymcriyX8Q/s1600/12+Wild+impala+Apyceros+melampus+in+Kruger+National+Park+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreVdH17sGBAhdV8sHHH_i6e0ihin9QO1FT5XbaVY8PDQEhm8EztvOa40JdAPKBAQPkG08PmKc6cPScxIUR3qrMS49It8RthFs5i1q9qGIke7BqPfMDoPoRHkryPprV6C03ymcriyX8Q/s400/12+Wild+impala+Apyceros+melampus+in+Kruger+National+Park+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sassy impala. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV-t87ow2kYUPwSFTQwJnlOuO6UplRZjxS1XGlW5hdOqTFBuE77Edp3k8VQgEr-2QZOKSktqPX4BcoPLrKALvRzBjHXxTZ0WhgXeyT1Gpt4_gvEs2DbCMQBChMzpFAlNtcwb4jVqxNg/s1600/13+Wild+giraffe+giraffa+camelopardalis+in+Kruger+National+Park+in+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV-t87ow2kYUPwSFTQwJnlOuO6UplRZjxS1XGlW5hdOqTFBuE77Edp3k8VQgEr-2QZOKSktqPX4BcoPLrKALvRzBjHXxTZ0WhgXeyT1Gpt4_gvEs2DbCMQBChMzpFAlNtcwb4jVqxNg/s400/13+Wild+giraffe+giraffa+camelopardalis+in+Kruger+National+Park+in+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forget what this animal is called, but I think our guide said it was called a giraffe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_67T0mI8LlaR8jZhUcU-R5AAWWOsmuuco2L5NC-vyLrVXPmA-SJ38AzrIKBibT9zzUkdQSkAsJXHQfRg4c4JNYi_Ugncbm3T5pXUEvduQb6qJ95C5x5OP_CrekIkTVH9Jmqy6GFeLmg/s1600/14+Wild+water+monitor+in+Kruger+National+Park+in+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_67T0mI8LlaR8jZhUcU-R5AAWWOsmuuco2L5NC-vyLrVXPmA-SJ38AzrIKBibT9zzUkdQSkAsJXHQfRg4c4JNYi_Ugncbm3T5pXUEvduQb6qJ95C5x5OP_CrekIkTVH9Jmqy6GFeLmg/s400/14+Wild+water+monitor+in+Kruger+National+Park+in+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A water monitor!</td></tr>
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I've still got a lot ahead of me too, a few more days in South Africa, a few days in Ghana and Morocco, and a few weeks in the United Kingdom and Ireland, not to mention the transit days between those ports! Probably won't be able to blog again until I get back home, so you'll just have to satisfy yourself with these fourteen pictures for the next two months or so. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-30692576088880531212015-10-19T15:06:00.000-06:002016-03-17T23:03:51.156-06:00Summer at the Morrison Natural History Museum<div class="MsoNormal">
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Summer has come and gone once again, and it was a record
breaking year for the <a href="http://www.mnhm.org/246/Morrison-Natural-History-Museum" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>! We were completely swamped with visitors
every day of the week, and everyone at the museum had a blast meeting and talking
with everyone who came in to visit us!
We had several very fun events that we were involved with, and tons of
amazing experiences as well. Here are
just a few of the fun events from the summer!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GmY7sGkD2Ks4LGFxeddAodW9jYzv3556pEZbEyXUdq0E9WISgnxmxjhZuCJpOpg46uV1-rf9LNo9L6FCFeZyItjuL6tCMo2vfvCDXiRTMHz5dnHLgjOAwewivKw5jyMoO91TnAeY2Q/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Matthew+Mossbrucker+stand+behind+the+front+sign+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GmY7sGkD2Ks4LGFxeddAodW9jYzv3556pEZbEyXUdq0E9WISgnxmxjhZuCJpOpg46uV1-rf9LNo9L6FCFeZyItjuL6tCMo2vfvCDXiRTMHz5dnHLgjOAwewivKw5jyMoO91TnAeY2Q/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Matthew+Mossbrucker+stand+behind+the+front+sign+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Matt%20Mossbrucker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Matthew Mossbrucker</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20T.%20Bakker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dr. Robert Bakker</span></a> on the balcony of the museum, posing for a picture for their <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/39g2py/iama_we_are_paleontologists_dr_robert_bakker_and/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Reddit AMA</span></a> in June.</td></tr>
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In June, the Director and Chief Curator of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Museum</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Matt%20Mossbrucker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Matthew Mossbrucker</span></a>, starred in the National Geographic special “<a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/t-rex-autopsy/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">T. rex Autopsy</span></a>.” To celebrate his success, <span style="color: yellow;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span style="color: yellow;"><span id="goog_1875382873"></span>Greg </span><span id="goog_1875382874"></span></a></span>and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Meredith%20Tally" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Meredith Tally</span></a>, co-owners of the <a href="http://www.bestwesterndenver.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Best Western Denver Southwest Dino Hotel</span></a>,
decided to throw him a big party at the hotel’s bar, Paleo Joe’s. It was a great get together for all of the
people involved with the museum!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyub2oer4c1wW1Pe4Ge-hLd5-VgASIaqOmsy_lOYqEBUO2Gzg45JHGNQjgYZsRuEm0tYNoliO9VhyzdxjmxsGb2D1eL4gbl2_vYEgOMsuqzFgEXnypv18E2kzuW9LC3qi_th3o4l5Iw/s1600/Volunteers+and+staff+from+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+gather+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+for+the+T.+rex+Autopsy+Party+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyub2oer4c1wW1Pe4Ge-hLd5-VgASIaqOmsy_lOYqEBUO2Gzg45JHGNQjgYZsRuEm0tYNoliO9VhyzdxjmxsGb2D1eL4gbl2_vYEgOMsuqzFgEXnypv18E2kzuW9LC3qi_th3o4l5Iw/s400/Volunteers+and+staff+from+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+gather+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+for+the+T.+rex+Autopsy+Party+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers, family, and friends all congregate at Paleo Joe's for the premiere of "T. rex Autopsy," starring Matthew Mossbrucker. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMG4em1BrL7gzElnj89xvXy6N1gBibiOlDjPda_htSzqboVToP8sTbWICcyknyaRigtq4Lyled6xUKbFxUeDeGY3WpO5NO9GDqeY-adAlNGuUOy9z0O0RafATXPn3NI-5GTL-4tHmMgw/s1600/Doug+Hartshorn+and+Matthew+Mossbrucker+at+the+T.+rex+Autopsy+party+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMG4em1BrL7gzElnj89xvXy6N1gBibiOlDjPda_htSzqboVToP8sTbWICcyknyaRigtq4Lyled6xUKbFxUeDeGY3WpO5NO9GDqeY-adAlNGuUOy9z0O0RafATXPn3NI-5GTL-4tHmMgw/s400/Doug+Hartshorn+and+Matthew+Mossbrucker+at+the+T.+rex+Autopsy+party+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum Coordinator Doug Hartshorn rocks the scrubs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH06WUduvLCbe6YcN8xeEg8ROYwX_VpoFXTz7bnhaOhnw0nGglvS93e0s76eEDciNHO4doRf10xbGGJ0K8tuYY6lwdbvOwW_UOJ4Hrt1rHS76fKlAc1ccitUzxbj5D08mWl5MkxCNQGQ/s1600/T.+rex+Autopsy+cake+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+celebrating+Matthew+Mossbrucker+Director+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH06WUduvLCbe6YcN8xeEg8ROYwX_VpoFXTz7bnhaOhnw0nGglvS93e0s76eEDciNHO4doRf10xbGGJ0K8tuYY6lwdbvOwW_UOJ4Hrt1rHS76fKlAc1ccitUzxbj5D08mWl5MkxCNQGQ/s400/T.+rex+Autopsy+cake+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+celebrating+Matthew+Mossbrucker+Director+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the most exciting (and delicious!) dinosaur cakes I have ever seen, made special in honor of Matthew's National Geographic program.</td></tr>
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As a follow-up to both Matthew's "T. rex Autopsy" program, as well as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20T.%20Bakker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dr. Robert Bakker</span></a>'s program entitled "Dino Death Match," the two <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologists </span></a>did a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/39g2py/iama_we_are_paleontologists_dr_robert_bakker_and/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything)</span></a>, with the help of Foundation Board member Greg Tally, our go-to guy for social media and press. To prove that you are who you say you are, all people who do an AMA are required to upload a picture with them holding a sign with "Reddit" on it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaobKeMHS2eZaenll3osPKjcqEE6HqcCx3r-YBU_RSB_4wKP19_PCq6HTIbHIpKxmBUuNLKKTqfFkmTuMcsWgw_67mZuttNfq411oi-XjRzq3Bq9yIZPvL8bTdDtc92iHbTQvcM-kMw/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Matthew+Mossbrucker+pose+for+a+picture+in+preparation+for+their+Reddit+AMA+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaobKeMHS2eZaenll3osPKjcqEE6HqcCx3r-YBU_RSB_4wKP19_PCq6HTIbHIpKxmBUuNLKKTqfFkmTuMcsWgw_67mZuttNfq411oi-XjRzq3Bq9yIZPvL8bTdDtc92iHbTQvcM-kMw/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Matthew+Mossbrucker+pose+for+a+picture+in+preparation+for+their+Reddit+AMA+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Robert Bakker and Matthew Mossbrucker posing in front of Stan, our <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus rex</span></a></i> skull cast, for the AMA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAxUsKrIbCIc3eMyrkiGnyVYHLqGYHbHRJxy4JQ2A1RZ-fCq6qCfSlTadY0ukceJsfHT6eIdmkb5Iv9iYtrVlvtqjhuVn0bEEpa8_UyidjR0LWyhtRwnj4qwEoBcqBW4tkftyMR_mWg/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Greg+Tally+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAxUsKrIbCIc3eMyrkiGnyVYHLqGYHbHRJxy4JQ2A1RZ-fCq6qCfSlTadY0ukceJsfHT6eIdmkb5Iv9iYtrVlvtqjhuVn0bEEpa8_UyidjR0LWyhtRwnj4qwEoBcqBW4tkftyMR_mWg/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Greg+Tally+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Robert Bakker and Greg Tally in front of the Morrison Natural History Museum trying to figure out the best place to take the AMA picture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6_uwKflX-3xMjIHDmX-dlJLoS6TVryXtCv3zBdd_fTpAl-o-yXLMY9GdLPaK-OHb7nXz6354ZphpY2FkShr_cvVyFsahyIWuX6sMTTIOgJ6gqL-Ox8YcaY7eNhcacevFrNmZkFjAEQ/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+holding+dinosaur+plushies+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6_uwKflX-3xMjIHDmX-dlJLoS6TVryXtCv3zBdd_fTpAl-o-yXLMY9GdLPaK-OHb7nXz6354ZphpY2FkShr_cvVyFsahyIWuX6sMTTIOgJ6gqL-Ox8YcaY7eNhcacevFrNmZkFjAEQ/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+holding+dinosaur+plushies+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Bakker and several stuffed dinosaur plushes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCzk5zj1lcVS5tQLcLNBnvtP92LbEIEwk8JnQhTO5iSn38dFjjnI9iJeVKkyGYOpSORF7pbAf7kvPlcyyHLe_iluRGwbgmHmA6j9Kx7EZlgY9lZuHfMDUAK7KqkuHTXlgfH_qEt_muw/s1600/Matthew+Mossbrucker+and+Greg+Tally+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCzk5zj1lcVS5tQLcLNBnvtP92LbEIEwk8JnQhTO5iSn38dFjjnI9iJeVKkyGYOpSORF7pbAf7kvPlcyyHLe_iluRGwbgmHmA6j9Kx7EZlgY9lZuHfMDUAK7KqkuHTXlgfH_qEt_muw/s400/Matthew+Mossbrucker+and+Greg+Tally+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew Mossbrucker and Greg Tally on the balcony of the museum.</td></tr>
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We are pretty excited about our recently renovated gift shop, as well! We started our in-house renovations of our gift shop and front office in December 2014, and completed the project in February 2015. Ever since then, we've had a ton of fun going through different catalogues and websites, selecting our favorite dinosaur merchandise for sale in our shop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzYNYS4KgDgMd4Ktt7qjzTRLMdf4H38ndCdTVeotGjBjg923UDhwM9wokcxs1ozJH4UhPfLK2sOwQIKwrPNM7_chNJyssksRgypHSI8wK5Dp710SIznfhzU93tPrdk0xiC7wMLu4wAA/s1600/The+recently+rennovated+dinosaur+gift+shop+full+of+dinosaur+merchandise+toys+plushies+stuffed+animals+and+books+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzYNYS4KgDgMd4Ktt7qjzTRLMdf4H38ndCdTVeotGjBjg923UDhwM9wokcxs1ozJH4UhPfLK2sOwQIKwrPNM7_chNJyssksRgypHSI8wK5Dp710SIznfhzU93tPrdk0xiC7wMLu4wAA/s400/The+recently+rennovated+dinosaur+gift+shop+full+of+dinosaur+merchandise+toys+plushies+stuffed+animals+and+books+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Tons of used and new dinosaur books line our shelves, and we have a nice little reading nook for those who want to take a load off and peruse the selection,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0_cv-Ip7eXgDYBk5UYyR5ndq7i1YX6pPJfH8luptxcxnUGzZI35VtuJ90IV-FMBuG68n0yom3P73WkMyj6dpUMHRqAfved4ZCMdpqXKY6zcaTw7EOvVXejYgJus62ctOS2uxp8p2lQ/s1600/Reading+book+bookshelves+and+dinosaur+toys+in+the+recently+rennovated+gift+shop+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0_cv-Ip7eXgDYBk5UYyR5ndq7i1YX6pPJfH8luptxcxnUGzZI35VtuJ90IV-FMBuG68n0yom3P73WkMyj6dpUMHRqAfved4ZCMdpqXKY6zcaTw7EOvVXejYgJus62ctOS2uxp8p2lQ/s400/Reading+book+bookshelves+and+dinosaur+toys+in+the+recently+rennovated+gift+shop+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWul9NVOGn-9WvXJMb1FMfNDcPWuwgSQriTgfimMPPGLhQYpq3Qm2nUIgyS6mQ7peZkVoCEUwHtgsX2QgkagbvWGSOL1cxODCyyEFKiXmYvRMvVj0nwSqTqULhuyX881rlpq_h1qF1eA/s1600/Shelves+of+dinosaur+merchandise+in+the+recently+rennovated+giftshop+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWul9NVOGn-9WvXJMb1FMfNDcPWuwgSQriTgfimMPPGLhQYpq3Qm2nUIgyS6mQ7peZkVoCEUwHtgsX2QgkagbvWGSOL1cxODCyyEFKiXmYvRMvVj0nwSqTqULhuyX881rlpq_h1qF1eA/s400/Shelves+of+dinosaur+merchandise+in+the+recently+rennovated+giftshop+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
There's always some sort of activity in the gift shop!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKmMcqp1NYc9MsQ3RFPraBlcOAqV0P91iFd8gTajLGJyubcPJKM31YDQh_GiebCCR3dyDaFFQv7CwscGPbm8_fAZbG1kq8QjTw562eglDwsOTT6nNmHF7MVu7pVfpxmHV5oe-SafeeA/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Greg+Tally+peruse+the+recently+rennovated+gift+shop+full+of+dinosaur+merchandise+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKmMcqp1NYc9MsQ3RFPraBlcOAqV0P91iFd8gTajLGJyubcPJKM31YDQh_GiebCCR3dyDaFFQv7CwscGPbm8_fAZbG1kq8QjTw562eglDwsOTT6nNmHF7MVu7pVfpxmHV5oe-SafeeA/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+and+Greg+Tally+peruse+the+recently+rennovated+gift+shop+full+of+dinosaur+merchandise+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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While going through some old files, I came across some old historical photos of the museum building. Originally in the way of the C-470, the old museum building was moved through the town of Morrison, and put up on stilts where it is today. Then, the lower level was built underneath. It was originally built in the 1950s by the Cox family. The building was moved in the late 1980s, and first opened its doors on October 22nd, 1989.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQJPu_vF-UCcu3Jdu3OvXhVcOOKJQW5r-0TxSYuMbrBk3rTDxGOlVJQFB4tlp34GhPCtg5LTinRLUGBB_4YpHV82WcxflgI0SPeoIXiM2F_YwqFiQtXAODqQ6VRNeFAcUegSHldUSbw/s1600/Movement+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+through+the+town+of+Morrison+Colorado+in+the+1990s+from+the+C-470+to+its+present+day+location+along+Colorado+Highway+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQJPu_vF-UCcu3Jdu3OvXhVcOOKJQW5r-0TxSYuMbrBk3rTDxGOlVJQFB4tlp34GhPCtg5LTinRLUGBB_4YpHV82WcxflgI0SPeoIXiM2F_YwqFiQtXAODqQ6VRNeFAcUegSHldUSbw/s400/Movement+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+through+the+town+of+Morrison+Colorado+in+the+1990s+from+the+C-470+to+its+present+day+location+along+Colorado+Highway+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The museum building, hanging a left onto <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado </span></a>Highway 8.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVUESIg0HC_wMXb7Cm3omE7hw1mtl2Shc4EM9NCWFl4YptNPGoQ5QYLI8jzYn2I72tvSOEcsk_YC10PxswVTVoL03kPGMyxd6G5Y3cwdgUK95NlVV8TdhKhq7Dkz7wIXr4pcsAmWjvQ/s1600/Movement+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+the+1990s+from+the+C-470+to+its+present+day+location+along+Colorado+Highway+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVUESIg0HC_wMXb7Cm3omE7hw1mtl2Shc4EM9NCWFl4YptNPGoQ5QYLI8jzYn2I72tvSOEcsk_YC10PxswVTVoL03kPGMyxd6G5Y3cwdgUK95NlVV8TdhKhq7Dkz7wIXr4pcsAmWjvQ/s400/Movement+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+the+1990s+from+the+C-470+to+its+present+day+location+along+Colorado+Highway+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving up Colorado Highway 8.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPQ2d-56fJa7FDOG1U6ASgLKK931f5ksMtSc6IKg034eOKxuZXXpFIGTBusyxWeemlFrU_G3cEHnDzg0NvjTxd36kv06WgaRoSHkT5KhQtYX0RsRqVJXlM4DDVKkoeA_DMc7OpRcrFg/s1600/The+building+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+the+1990s+on+stilts+prior+to+the+building+of+the+lower+level+at+its+present+location+in+Morrison+Colorado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPQ2d-56fJa7FDOG1U6ASgLKK931f5ksMtSc6IKg034eOKxuZXXpFIGTBusyxWeemlFrU_G3cEHnDzg0NvjTxd36kv06WgaRoSHkT5KhQtYX0RsRqVJXlM4DDVKkoeA_DMc7OpRcrFg/s400/The+building+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+the+1990s+on+stilts+prior+to+the+building+of+the+lower+level+at+its+present+location+in+Morrison+Colorado.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The museum building in its present position, prior to the building of the lower level underneath the historic cabin.</td></tr>
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Our live <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptiles </span></a>have been doing great, and you can see all of them on display at the museum. Most Fridays, our Curator of Live Animals Ann Sarg feeds the herps, which is always very entertaining to watch. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhphdbARvpW4QIvSomGVmHW8QePCTZ8HFtJx_jemCie4aqTFzgqZ2s4VwcwKJHXByl9ESgSlxvapyWeoXCAFnEcBAGHwdauiJ-UPwNQhOLHaunRseJMY8kvSb5Y54T09BzIn2fxz5aA/s1600/Herkimer+the+Dumeril%2527s+monitor+lizard+Varanus+dumerilii+reenacting+Jurassic+World+scenes+with+Alex+Kalinowski+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhphdbARvpW4QIvSomGVmHW8QePCTZ8HFtJx_jemCie4aqTFzgqZ2s4VwcwKJHXByl9ESgSlxvapyWeoXCAFnEcBAGHwdauiJ-UPwNQhOLHaunRseJMY8kvSb5Y54T09BzIn2fxz5aA/s400/Herkimer+the+Dumeril%2527s+monitor+lizard+Varanus+dumerilii+reenacting+Jurassic+World+scenes+with+Alex+Kalinowski+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our volunteers, Alex Kalinowski, helped me get this shot, a reference to the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mosasaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mosasaur </span></a>scene in the new <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jurassic%20World" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jurassic World</span></a> movie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9fnl8lZeENTon-VN_QlO1AZv-AAZIf24RDbpVt32jyTP-KrYtWJf6rc3ys2k-TMKl_RRHsG4cHjsJ98X6uFvXPtpk3SHDVpAjLel45JjKueRZ8SbxxPGkRcVCI2A7vAmC1riqfMAqQ/s1600/Herkimer+the+Dumeril%2527s+monitor+lizard+Varanus+dumerilii+with+his+tongue+out+reenacting+Jurassic+World+scenes+with+Alex+Kalinowski+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9fnl8lZeENTon-VN_QlO1AZv-AAZIf24RDbpVt32jyTP-KrYtWJf6rc3ys2k-TMKl_RRHsG4cHjsJ98X6uFvXPtpk3SHDVpAjLel45JjKueRZ8SbxxPGkRcVCI2A7vAmC1riqfMAqQ/s400/Herkimer+the+Dumeril%2527s+monitor+lizard+Varanus+dumerilii+with+his+tongue+out+reenacting+Jurassic+World+scenes+with+Alex+Kalinowski+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shot does an excellent job of showing off Herkimer's tongue. Herkimer is our Dumeril's <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Monitor%20Lizard" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">monitor lizard</span></a> (<i>Varanus dumerilii</i>), and always a pleasure to observe. His forked tongue enables him to home in on prey.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Another shot of Herkimer and his fantastic forked tongue.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2vw-wIxUNrT2FxgSbTpePqXS3GpSrZt2hu7QIi6OBPzbBoFYXNwM1EAXFjNU0_f6RZtr3pD54bw5B9vCj52_AdzCCUD6UGZgbJEEZsgPFZOfJQwZ2BySU3vfPXkmcrK2naNzPWhE4A/s1600/Herkimer+the+Dumeril%2527s+monitor+lizard+Varanus+dumerilii+sticking+his+tongue+out+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2vw-wIxUNrT2FxgSbTpePqXS3GpSrZt2hu7QIi6OBPzbBoFYXNwM1EAXFjNU0_f6RZtr3pD54bw5B9vCj52_AdzCCUD6UGZgbJEEZsgPFZOfJQwZ2BySU3vfPXkmcrK2naNzPWhE4A/s400/Herkimer+the+Dumeril%2527s+monitor+lizard+Varanus+dumerilii+sticking+his+tongue+out+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not only does he have a forked tongue, but he has a third eye on the top of his head, just like his extinct <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cretaceous </span></a>cousins, the mosasaurs. The third eye is used as a little bit of extra warning, in case a predator tries to sneak up on him from above.</span></td></tr>
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On top of our monitor lizard, the museum is currently home to a trio of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snakes</span></a>, a milk snake, garter snake, and bull snake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvTjxdY5SY6DG904uEu5RXCri_81qIiPTrFcmmuKHCZd_qdOH4qZ-ChCULS2uWMX1D7d0mzHsWM1XqTdhKmeH2sXg5HNNrLqXqnhshn7jKmmX-aIGCxOfCR7NoYVcsCLuBqh1RV9YzA/s1600/Sylvia+the+milk+snake+Lampropeltis+triangulum+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum%252C+partially+illuminated+by+a+Rainbow+on+the+Ceiling+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvTjxdY5SY6DG904uEu5RXCri_81qIiPTrFcmmuKHCZd_qdOH4qZ-ChCULS2uWMX1D7d0mzHsWM1XqTdhKmeH2sXg5HNNrLqXqnhshn7jKmmX-aIGCxOfCR7NoYVcsCLuBqh1RV9YzA/s400/Sylvia+the+milk+snake+Lampropeltis+triangulum+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum%252C+partially+illuminated+by+a+Rainbow+on+the+Ceiling+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our milk snake (<i>Lampropeltis triangulum</i>) Sylvia, one of our friendliest museum ambassadors. Milk snakes, like all of our museum snakes, are non-venomous, although they have evolved to mimic the venomous coral snake, such as the eastern coral snake (<i>Micrurus fulvius</i>), the main difference being in the pattern of the colored bands on the snake's body. "Black on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend to Zack." In this shot, you can see Sylvia is partially illuminated by a "Rainbow on the Ceiling," which at that point in time temporarily became a "Rainbow on the Ceiling and the Milk Snake."</td></tr>
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Jeffy, our western terrestrial garter snake (<i>Thamnophis elegans</i>) is as elusive as ever, but occasionally will make a rare appearance, immediately swamped by paparazzi and onlookers.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPXVpkZ7wMJ1Ro1RF1pt_O4HHxp3BIkzxMQpZMU6dKt-o8OCSt5SpzosSrzZHsQzgBUkf8UdJTaWJH78UkdIBImgb7LC4RjE7PbN1zH4JuKO1O6-V0QXa_j07sdRBq-O4GzjXAWMM_w/s1600/Jeffy+the+western+terrestrial+garter+snake+Thamnophis+elegans+in+the+Ice+Age+Colorado+exhibit+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPXVpkZ7wMJ1Ro1RF1pt_O4HHxp3BIkzxMQpZMU6dKt-o8OCSt5SpzosSrzZHsQzgBUkf8UdJTaWJH78UkdIBImgb7LC4RjE7PbN1zH4JuKO1O6-V0QXa_j07sdRBq-O4GzjXAWMM_w/s400/Jeffy+the+western+terrestrial+garter+snake+Thamnophis+elegans+in+the+Ice+Age+Colorado+exhibit+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeffy, the western terrestrial garter snake (<i>Thamnophis elegans</i>). Unlike many other colubrid snakes, garter snakes actually give birth to live young!</td></tr>
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Aunna Thomas is one of our volunteers who helps out taking care of our live reptiles on Tuesdays. Here, Aunna is handling Jim, our enormous bull snake (<i>Piutophis catenifer sayi</i>) who, despite his size, is really quite friendly, and makes a great museum ambassador as well!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlktpFOt3Pjgc2rcx_CRNjrXF7kN6lsgNtrhs68Vzpt7PvGyN5fOr4aMbNpPDGbGeIXjo90mbUfxmAAxcXMDtXtPmrz9ElVU4H2AEqty6umfRbmd9juLitJZUrGjPqVU9ngaPE0xYi3w/s1600/Volunteer+Aunna+Thomas+handles+Jim+the+bullsnake+Pituophis+catenifer+sayi+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlktpFOt3Pjgc2rcx_CRNjrXF7kN6lsgNtrhs68Vzpt7PvGyN5fOr4aMbNpPDGbGeIXjo90mbUfxmAAxcXMDtXtPmrz9ElVU4H2AEqty6umfRbmd9juLitJZUrGjPqVU9ngaPE0xYi3w/s400/Volunteer+Aunna+Thomas+handles+Jim+the+bullsnake+Pituophis+catenifer+sayi+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Several times over the summer, we had a wild bull snake stop by and say hello. Here, the snake pays a visit to our outdoor Dig Pit, where kids can dig around for real fossils and a dinosaur skeleton! Despite having no arms or legs, many snakes are quite capable at digging.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcYgojqmMTcm7PwHtbnPCiCMzdntNvM8ft-v4bBIMc7N04DgqmHH-AAWxfTRMYPlhAjgi8vL8xJfsuJSqSgVy0EmaACwUP3QSkL3q3OEa9K9knJ6Chs_VsMyFhR3KUF1zSGkjxqSKIA/s1600/Wild+bullsnake+Pituophis+catenifer+sayi+gopher+snake+in+the+outdoor+dig+pit+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcYgojqmMTcm7PwHtbnPCiCMzdntNvM8ft-v4bBIMc7N04DgqmHH-AAWxfTRMYPlhAjgi8vL8xJfsuJSqSgVy0EmaACwUP3QSkL3q3OEa9K9knJ6Chs_VsMyFhR3KUF1zSGkjxqSKIA/s400/Wild+bullsnake+Pituophis+catenifer+sayi+gopher+snake+in+the+outdoor+dig+pit+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Here we have one of our three adorable little western box <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Turtle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">turtles </span></a>(<i>Terrapene ornata ornata</i>). I've learned over the years that if you point at them too close to the glass, they will sometimes mistake your finger for a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Earthworm" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">worm</span></a>, and do their very best to make a snack out of it. But don't worry, in all our years with our box turtles, we've never had any confirmed fatalities associated with a turtle attack.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPPMsMXep0pGU5CL8c_9cg4SJLaPHHCZDr4b5h_cekQAwXlpBqw3JwQAolEdv1mU36J0J_0C0yU6ULN1SKA8Ae_hYNb0_D2kfAP6bjRDuSyOPF8vXNsMZTmSe696PtcfpHvb5jCTvhg/s1600/One+of+three+western+box+turtles+Terrapene+ornata+ornata+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPPMsMXep0pGU5CL8c_9cg4SJLaPHHCZDr4b5h_cekQAwXlpBqw3JwQAolEdv1mU36J0J_0C0yU6ULN1SKA8Ae_hYNb0_D2kfAP6bjRDuSyOPF8vXNsMZTmSe696PtcfpHvb5jCTvhg/s400/One+of+three+western+box+turtles+Terrapene+ornata+ornata+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the picture below, Curator of Live Animals Ann Sarg talks with a tour group from The Gardens at Columbine in Littleton. Ann feeds our collection of live animals almost every Friday, and it's always a treat to watch!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErsNqcaTgkj_mbz4mah6RIgo6VGJzAgqUbN2AeqQ51t1ahcB5E8ZGcUZmBzVyV5fs36EFzngej1SPKjUJWaJ6PBl0GnovxxstY2ztIlbA8WGF659tN-YGYfMZg65l4Zyckks01hnLOg/s1600/Ann+Sarg%252C+Curator+of+Live+Animals+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado%252C+leads+a+tour+group+from+The+Gardens+at+Columbine+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErsNqcaTgkj_mbz4mah6RIgo6VGJzAgqUbN2AeqQ51t1ahcB5E8ZGcUZmBzVyV5fs36EFzngej1SPKjUJWaJ6PBl0GnovxxstY2ztIlbA8WGF659tN-YGYfMZg65l4Zyckks01hnLOg/s400/Ann+Sarg%252C+Curator+of+Live+Animals+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado%252C+leads+a+tour+group+from+The+Gardens+at+Columbine+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Our clean-up day and volunteer barbeques are always a big success, and this year was no exception.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o93ZUmCeDHZa21aoYLz3BOFIacv5W4OWj7UPWgDnV-Pke5scws4yh0lYtewaya0pNHmGe8PhtsyCVcP4gpPvLvqtqf_a4OanTwkjxmRRovk1lv6lgfJvsR8ubiBlq6YM7lbjU8rX6Q/s1600/Alex+Lambrecht+Zack+Neher+Matthew+Mossbrucker+Caroline+Tally+Joe+Tally+Voy+a+Tener+el+Pollo+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Miriam+Needham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1o93ZUmCeDHZa21aoYLz3BOFIacv5W4OWj7UPWgDnV-Pke5scws4yh0lYtewaya0pNHmGe8PhtsyCVcP4gpPvLvqtqf_a4OanTwkjxmRRovk1lv6lgfJvsR8ubiBlq6YM7lbjU8rX6Q/s400/Alex+Lambrecht+Zack+Neher+Matthew+Mossbrucker+Caroline+Tally+Joe+Tally+Voy+a+Tener+el+Pollo+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Miriam+Needham.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several of our volunteers created brilliant shirts in order of the director.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42Bc7J-bjcL7ZqPoGwx7dpBIAJjzQdrWaDKSoV4UvGg2J0Vf_pV0uqZSUZFTeFtr_q6jxjxWENX4kGf7tz7XrOi6HR9MX8uU4_0Ffof_j2E31GT4V8ztLKsWoC2Iw-wYnLPZ7mbo9Mg/s1600/Matthew+Mossbrucker+and+Bryan+Turner+in+the+Paleontology+Lab+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42Bc7J-bjcL7ZqPoGwx7dpBIAJjzQdrWaDKSoV4UvGg2J0Vf_pV0uqZSUZFTeFtr_q6jxjxWENX4kGf7tz7XrOi6HR9MX8uU4_0Ffof_j2E31GT4V8ztLKsWoC2Iw-wYnLPZ7mbo9Mg/s400/Matthew+Mossbrucker+and+Bryan+Turner+in+the+Paleontology+Lab+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteer Bryan Turner and director Matthew Mossbrucker talk fossils in the Paleo Lab.</td></tr>
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Speaking of the museum volunteers, it's always important to emphasize just how critical to our operation the volunteers are! Without them, the museum experience simply would not be the same, and we are always indebted to them for their service. Below is a picture of our volunteer board, which features most of our currently active volunteers. Since our volunteers come and go, and we always have new volunteers as well, inevitably I fall behind in updating the board. Following that are pictures of only a few of our volunteers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CDBYTnX-QnwbNKzFO9O9ZAr50bKZPDQIfCGI7PfbdS9gUGmgYBDMeZuIsWdK-_AlThSm0KeHMhkkmT1ExyTEvpAvPKOeB3aHL_k4zzYaycYHtcLjfduoYrE0dH4DXGYxi2sUCrzxYw/s1600/Volunteer+Board+Wall+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CDBYTnX-QnwbNKzFO9O9ZAr50bKZPDQIfCGI7PfbdS9gUGmgYBDMeZuIsWdK-_AlThSm0KeHMhkkmT1ExyTEvpAvPKOeB3aHL_k4zzYaycYHtcLjfduoYrE0dH4DXGYxi2sUCrzxYw/s400/Volunteer+Board+Wall+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfezaxctsgFohYWcV9tT5ZIMYmmoGamMZxr94BqYox4K7PZyWVDLM0e6MgNjEBWyiGbSHnwhTOZaBeS3h4SGRrciEHaxxi_jyTNSkCcgKUnSDozCSrTTU8uKv-xFHhzK5ElENdIqPvg/s1600/Volunteer+Max+Todd+poses+next+to+the+Pteranodon+skeleton+cast+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfezaxctsgFohYWcV9tT5ZIMYmmoGamMZxr94BqYox4K7PZyWVDLM0e6MgNjEBWyiGbSHnwhTOZaBeS3h4SGRrciEHaxxi_jyTNSkCcgKUnSDozCSrTTU8uKv-xFHhzK5ElENdIqPvg/s400/Volunteer+Max+Todd+poses+next+to+the+Pteranodon+skeleton+cast+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Todd, an excellent tour guide and paleontology interpreter. Max is standing next to our <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pteranodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pteranodon </span></a></i>skeleton cast in our Cretaceous <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado </span></a>exhibit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lu5UuuiP4raxvCMYFu3qPvrKqTSWO7xvAlRM8NpP6Qi6CyyVGtKprMuyVxwgl6ekz6tjB-BLzi0lhkbXm5VHoxXuZUkUS6T-W4FY06-40UuroXzIOUk_uAoRN7LQlaqFQpUiEQgyLQ/s1600/Eron+Richmond+preparator+and+paleo+technician+in+the+Paleontology+Lab+with+dinosaur+bones+in+rock+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lu5UuuiP4raxvCMYFu3qPvrKqTSWO7xvAlRM8NpP6Qi6CyyVGtKprMuyVxwgl6ekz6tjB-BLzi0lhkbXm5VHoxXuZUkUS6T-W4FY06-40UuroXzIOUk_uAoRN7LQlaqFQpUiEQgyLQ/s400/Eron+Richmond+preparator+and+paleo+technician+in+the+Paleontology+Lab+with+dinosaur+bones+in+rock+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eron Richmond, one of our paleo technicians, who helps up slowly uncover secrets of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Jurassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Jurassic</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Morrison%20Formation" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Formation</span></a> that have been locked away for nearly 150 million years. Eron is gesturing towards some of those very bones, including bones from an ancient <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sauropod" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sauropod</span></a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FuXsrrh0v_Juux3rtwkeZtz9NNQADBAfcOVmpWp5V5MQuz1u6yTBMuILfZyRnGigZWnjfJt4D9rMMUy6EW8kZSnyUvyPyu_9fccO_R73d3V5K4GsuCI6ZhblLxZySqbRq24-MuMU1g/s1600/Jill+Hutchison+preparator+paleo+technician+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+posing+next+to+an+allosaur+skull+cast+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FuXsrrh0v_Juux3rtwkeZtz9NNQADBAfcOVmpWp5V5MQuz1u6yTBMuILfZyRnGigZWnjfJt4D9rMMUy6EW8kZSnyUvyPyu_9fccO_R73d3V5K4GsuCI6ZhblLxZySqbRq24-MuMU1g/s400/Jill+Hutchison+preparator+paleo+technician+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+posing+next+to+an+allosaur+skull+cast+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jill Hutchison, another one of our paleo technicians. Jill also helps out a lot at the front desk, checking visitors in and getting them oriented to what they will see in the museum. Here, Jill poses next to our <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Allosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">allosaur </span></a>skull cast in our <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jurassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jurassic </span></a>Exhibit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71NenKtRpDIl70GSms8pa8C6MDGJ2IiqNLgfpJGuqWyE2FS1Hu7l02kHXZrrBOAJahLMWMoWpwg9LudFi7-EnZ3tgnLI3MnxJcrDUeMqqsS2GexMi8BgEFRV3T2ADy8Uhol6EBPu3gQ/s1600/Chenoa+Ellinghaus+Paleo+Illustrator+poses+next+to+the+Tylosaurus+skull+cast+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71NenKtRpDIl70GSms8pa8C6MDGJ2IiqNLgfpJGuqWyE2FS1Hu7l02kHXZrrBOAJahLMWMoWpwg9LudFi7-EnZ3tgnLI3MnxJcrDUeMqqsS2GexMi8BgEFRV3T2ADy8Uhol6EBPu3gQ/s400/Chenoa+Ellinghaus+Paleo+Illustrator+poses+next+to+the+Tylosaurus+skull+cast+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chenoa Ellinghaus, our resident paleo-artist. Chenoa also works with me at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/BWDS" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Best Western Denver Southwest Dino Hotel</span></a>. Our <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tylosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tylosaurus </span></a></i>skull cast is seen in the foreground.</span></td></tr>
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One of Chenoa's current projects is a line of paleo-plushies called "Paleo Pals." Chenoa recently released the first of these plushies, Andy the <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Anomalocaris" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Anomalocaris</span></a></i>, pictured below. Check out the Paleo Pals website by clicking <a href="http://www.paleopalstoys.com/andy-the-anomalocaris" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>, and enjoy a brief description of the plush in the video below, featuring Dr. Robert Bakker, Chenoa Ellinghaus, Matthew Mossbrucker, and Greg Tally.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZjdHzVxplO3bZeUtX3toSnzXBDfCSQwKFLHJjaf6kYoawBhEXymJWpTFMhO4kOpSvkl-zZ3TTVkSZDs1GviAPG2jDh-xHPbO_Py6kZJpH14CCfoXXMWnkaC_cysdgmTlxGCq0x4EvA/s1600/Paleo-Pals-Andy-the-Anomalocaris.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZjdHzVxplO3bZeUtX3toSnzXBDfCSQwKFLHJjaf6kYoawBhEXymJWpTFMhO4kOpSvkl-zZ3TTVkSZDs1GviAPG2jDh-xHPbO_Py6kZJpH14CCfoXXMWnkaC_cysdgmTlxGCq0x4EvA/s400/Paleo-Pals-Andy-the-Anomalocaris.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chenoa's fantastic new plush, Andy the <i>Anomalocaris</i>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dGf3mIfxO_w6bg91k_fy4JoLgmL-eyMrfGo9fHooFVuXTvzO9_5yWuIp395jQcRmd7vy107geYCNkOHAuYs4PNX6pJS7fuF2_6LVcGzblzHdmLt0zKxfcJcuzpGJk7DyKsSxUeXn4A/s1600/Matthew+Mossbrucker+and+Chenoa+Ellinghaus+in+the+Time+Garden+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dGf3mIfxO_w6bg91k_fy4JoLgmL-eyMrfGo9fHooFVuXTvzO9_5yWuIp395jQcRmd7vy107geYCNkOHAuYs4PNX6pJS7fuF2_6LVcGzblzHdmLt0zKxfcJcuzpGJk7DyKsSxUeXn4A/s400/Matthew+Mossbrucker+and+Chenoa+Ellinghaus+in+the+Time+Garden+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, Chenoa Ellinghaus and Matthew Mossbrucker prepare for a film segment for Chenoa's Kickstarter video in our Time Garden, which you can enjoy in its entirety below.</td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4Vr0TtbXQ7Q/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Vr0TtbXQ7Q?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Everyone here had a great summer, and we look forward to having an incredible fall and winter as well! Here's just a few more pictures from the summer.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3vYXOqpp7S9CB9OPnO6gnP-pyNv2Y-SJVK3dkRv0BqVPk0OuLxBlSVRGEiIqfZfD83psygJ8sN7XwId3tJuTxVvcPdLKj1G3ZC3DprbYpIkQ0Mr1EcWXZYMrfyGtfOSfeYzy9o-H5Q/s1600/Allosaur+skull+cast+from+the+Morrison+Formation+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+as+part+of+the+Jurassic+Exhibit+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3vYXOqpp7S9CB9OPnO6gnP-pyNv2Y-SJVK3dkRv0BqVPk0OuLxBlSVRGEiIqfZfD83psygJ8sN7XwId3tJuTxVvcPdLKj1G3ZC3DprbYpIkQ0Mr1EcWXZYMrfyGtfOSfeYzy9o-H5Q/s400/Allosaur+skull+cast+from+the+Morrison+Formation+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+as+part+of+the+Jurassic+Exhibit+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our allosaur skull cast in our Jurassic Exhibit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPlp4koee41O2B1eDEtv0iABaLR7sbA5Se4-MPpwA6n6UBonObAOz16NdYh30lJ1ZVJvB43_-5505HuF6V11VaPaH9YpaqkpjKVlFkZh-dA5Pw3ROrJ2jdxRcueSh5ROxh2M93HqSZw/s1600/Apatosaurus+ajax+wooden+behind+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPlp4koee41O2B1eDEtv0iABaLR7sbA5Se4-MPpwA6n6UBonObAOz16NdYh30lJ1ZVJvB43_-5505HuF6V11VaPaH9YpaqkpjKVlFkZh-dA5Pw3ROrJ2jdxRcueSh5ROxh2M93HqSZw/s400/Apatosaurus+ajax+wooden+behind+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our enormous wooden reconstruction of an <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Apatosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Apatosaurus ajax</span></a></i>, out behind the museum. Unfortunately, we ended up taking this down at the beginning of the summer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B1qMg9w96DuO5lxdFlPGN7PGPG94y_k0ej4DSSLMU3-n0ehoTmIM_WZ06l2EK84G_7XNt8Yx624OccK3U1rJPpHF9weK07oTWNMuGZ9IWga9yEVKfQIzhnUcG_G6-Y4JAC3Z84jE7g/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+Doug+Hartshorn+examine+block+from+historic+Quarry+5+dinosaur+bones+from+the+Late+Jurassic+Morrison+Formation+at+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum++Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B1qMg9w96DuO5lxdFlPGN7PGPG94y_k0ej4DSSLMU3-n0ehoTmIM_WZ06l2EK84G_7XNt8Yx624OccK3U1rJPpHF9weK07oTWNMuGZ9IWga9yEVKfQIzhnUcG_G6-Y4JAC3Z84jE7g/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+Doug+Hartshorn+examine+block+from+historic+Quarry+5+dinosaur+bones+from+the+Late+Jurassic+Morrison+Formation+at+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum++Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Robert Bakker and Doug Hartshorn investigate one of our blocks of Late Jurassic, Morrison Formation rock from Quarry 5, right in Morrison.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPk00aSMMgw4CNb2RNu0PJhK-4EtFgxbUuw0KGh3swO5IZhzMtaC0LLxZ9CaJ59_51WFkZagwlcUIffvLl8iwpA7-RmareSTqKpMafvl7HUJam1nsrBA9muqKdwjZE_4VUn2B75pZRw/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+examines+talus+block+containing+dinosaur+bones+from+the+Late+Jurassic+Morrison+Formation+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPk00aSMMgw4CNb2RNu0PJhK-4EtFgxbUuw0KGh3swO5IZhzMtaC0LLxZ9CaJ59_51WFkZagwlcUIffvLl8iwpA7-RmareSTqKpMafvl7HUJam1nsrBA9muqKdwjZE_4VUn2B75pZRw/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+examines+talus+block+containing+dinosaur+bones+from+the+Late+Jurassic+Morrison+Formation+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDIpfzu-GHZ9WGS9jyEqPVYmf6InkHyvdhMFsO4faJXJv1hrdSQxse-ylenxdHKf657NMKZ7qweIsfT81aCq9K3Yv03-DS2SWHVTOAMFe_UB4h9Kj5jEQ_SkXwjsi3nQewBge9Qy9yQ/s1600/Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Paleontology+Interpreter+Zack+Neher+with+friends+Masaki+Kleinkopf%252C+Mona+Kamath%252C+and+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Alex+Kalinowski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDIpfzu-GHZ9WGS9jyEqPVYmf6InkHyvdhMFsO4faJXJv1hrdSQxse-ylenxdHKf657NMKZ7qweIsfT81aCq9K3Yv03-DS2SWHVTOAMFe_UB4h9Kj5jEQ_SkXwjsi3nQewBge9Qy9yQ/s400/Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Paleontology+Interpreter+Zack+Neher+with+friends+Masaki+Kleinkopf%252C+Mona+Kamath%252C+and+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Alex+Kalinowski.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friends <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Zach%20Evens" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Zach Evens</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mona%20Kamath" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Mona Kamath</span></a>, and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Masaki%20Kleinkopf" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Masaki Kleinkopf</span></a> came up with me to visit in August, which was a ton of fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUr_jTZsL2JzPhyU735gVI1hw7hVLp6kKrSqONc852e1rHN1T7SNZGL2e5iZBEecq2DTVBnJurREUdJNJ9bcJvWvTMZbtClSHwt4PvvC7-kf_mx6ZvDkmeKQX8TEA7EyO5qJqvfAo0g/s1600/North+American+lion+Panthera+atrox+cat+skull+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUr_jTZsL2JzPhyU735gVI1hw7hVLp6kKrSqONc852e1rHN1T7SNZGL2e5iZBEecq2DTVBnJurREUdJNJ9bcJvWvTMZbtClSHwt4PvvC7-kf_mx6ZvDkmeKQX8TEA7EyO5qJqvfAo0g/s400/North+American+lion+Panthera+atrox+cat+skull+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cast of the skull of the North American lion (<i>Panthera atrox</i>), on display in our <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ice%20Age" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ice Age</span></a> Colorado exhibit. The North American lion is the largest cat known to science, an enormous feline the size of a modern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Polar%20Bear" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">polar bear</span></a>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFPJJaVsSqq1vTjO2xeu96yTdvsm8l6lSKSvk8DPuV6bLEAZ9lsR0iWzr7cefo4KbZVwaVpp3tZGAdHDTxgvIHcSstimY3nw-TXgwp0fxMP4-6AxhOi5_gRwluGNaoKL_9DohzjjEjQ/s1600/Pteranodon+female+skeleton+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+with+a+majestic+Rainbow+on+the+Ceiling+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFPJJaVsSqq1vTjO2xeu96yTdvsm8l6lSKSvk8DPuV6bLEAZ9lsR0iWzr7cefo4KbZVwaVpp3tZGAdHDTxgvIHcSstimY3nw-TXgwp0fxMP4-6AxhOi5_gRwluGNaoKL_9DohzjjEjQ/s400/Pteranodon+female+skeleton+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+with+a+majestic+Rainbow+on+the+Ceiling+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On an historic day, a rainbow was projected on the ceiling of our Cretaceous Colorado Exhibit from the water in Herkimer's tank. Here, you can see our <i>Pteranodon </i>skeleton cast dramatically backlit by the rainbow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfP9crhIkLw7wREI6NnbFc4DfqDhEJGr3J7tuKv6X_Fp6q2kSBl16r99PJrVauiyNIVV5HLHPQpmsNJ-ZhIOheqv5bZWGcIrPBBz8QgxKclqRhGmtvD4LZVYCemMj647BJTuLigydNQ/s1600/Scouring+rush+Hippochaete+hyemalis+in+the+Jurassic+Garden+outside+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfP9crhIkLw7wREI6NnbFc4DfqDhEJGr3J7tuKv6X_Fp6q2kSBl16r99PJrVauiyNIVV5HLHPQpmsNJ-ZhIOheqv5bZWGcIrPBBz8QgxKclqRhGmtvD4LZVYCemMj647BJTuLigydNQ/s400/Scouring+rush+Hippochaete+hyemalis+in+the+Jurassic+Garden+outside+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scouring rush (<i>Hippochaete hyemalis</i>) flourished in the Jurassic Garden, out in front of the museum. It's quite likely that the diet of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stegosaurus </span></a></i>and other Late Jurassic herbivores would have included something similar to this scouring rush.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcQaoVnSLEySj2Ybj2ppUWablOI5s9iHP1K-0RZJ9RSIUTv3g2PyNfYGTLP4Nj5B8EZ7Ts8Tr2Fd0Z4G91jijGIEPvLXfFO1wsMqQIKqMDPKc0i4mLQDsUO07LcE49RFM2nNlKWkLAw/s1600/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+holding+dinosaur+plushies+stuffed+animals+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcQaoVnSLEySj2Ybj2ppUWablOI5s9iHP1K-0RZJ9RSIUTv3g2PyNfYGTLP4Nj5B8EZ7Ts8Tr2Fd0Z4G91jijGIEPvLXfFO1wsMqQIKqMDPKc0i4mLQDsUO07LcE49RFM2nNlKWkLAw/s400/Dr.+Robert+Bakker+holding+dinosaur+plushies+stuffed+animals+in+front+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Robert Bakker poses in front of the museum sign with several dinosaur plushies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBICqs00oIE_I5Xj5pkkue3DkGhSyth76egFuibmcO8J0Tcuf5Blmwn5b3YpjH40k5tYEWw4ZJI7xFMBXW8ycToUnyy0UuogzwYsueDGq8GFIRcWMfHdKbTKhFYRkUEc7jhTYakPMDA/s1600/Uintatherium+skull+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBICqs00oIE_I5Xj5pkkue3DkGhSyth76egFuibmcO8J0Tcuf5Blmwn5b3YpjH40k5tYEWw4ZJI7xFMBXW8ycToUnyy0UuogzwYsueDGq8GFIRcWMfHdKbTKhFYRkUEc7jhTYakPMDA/s400/Uintatherium+skull+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Uintatherium" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Uintatherium </span></a></i>skull cast, on display in our Ice Age Colorado exhibit. This enormous <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammal </span></a>lived during the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Eocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Eocene Epoch</span></a>, and despite it's deadly-looking fangs was an herbivore! The tusks, as well as the six ossicones on its head, almost certainly served a role in attracting a mate, like modern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Walrus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">walrus </span></a>and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giraffe" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giraffes</span></a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r_7kgawnAXJToK0gCQdwIVU9V6rAS9Y-XtMUCGBeEx88CXhna2NVn0u4-Pzu_o14Upw2Ka2rgIGpVsssCM9giJP25sGhmFYTjOnnTHcPXoklWdfNS44NP_WJYAsx6DNdqZ-B8223xw/s1600/The+Model-T+Association+of+Colorado+stops+by+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+for+a+visit+Doug+Hartshorn+Wesley+Stagg+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r_7kgawnAXJToK0gCQdwIVU9V6rAS9Y-XtMUCGBeEx88CXhna2NVn0u4-Pzu_o14Upw2Ka2rgIGpVsssCM9giJP25sGhmFYTjOnnTHcPXoklWdfNS44NP_WJYAsx6DNdqZ-B8223xw/s400/The+Model-T+Association+of+Colorado+stops+by+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison%252C+Colorado+for+a+visit+Doug+Hartshorn+Wesley+Stagg+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several members of the Model T Association of Colorado came by in their cars for a tour, which was a very fun day in the parking lot!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-80846864992486738932015-09-18T14:34:00.001-06:002015-09-18T15:19:06.877-06:00Dino Tootsies and the Reverend HitchcockDinosaurs and birds share many things in common, and one of the most important characteristics that links the two is their feet. Looking at the foot of a chicken and a tyrannosaur, you can see a number of fascinating similarities. In both animals, you can see that the toe bones, the metatarsal bones, form a surface with which the tibia, astragalus, and calcaneum. This is one of the most important defining characteristics of the dinosaurs, and a fascinating link with modern birds! <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvHzi9WjZ1Oy8v8ASbCpfh8POAsIbAc7-Bj2s6vaFf1HSifPV-dTQKDW_TpsUO5dN_Wi0o7_sB3Miphhcu4u0uwTN8Ln6D1LHk1NNkWEVD-dvuDvrj8n0C1F1KHMTPwZXx2qGKBcmJQ/s640/blogger-image--479465052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvHzi9WjZ1Oy8v8ASbCpfh8POAsIbAc7-Bj2s6vaFf1HSifPV-dTQKDW_TpsUO5dN_Wi0o7_sB3Miphhcu4u0uwTN8Ln6D1LHk1NNkWEVD-dvuDvrj8n0C1F1KHMTPwZXx2qGKBcmJQ/s640/blogger-image--479465052.jpg"></a></div>Above is a leg of a <i>Gorgosaurus</i>, a type of tyrannosaur that lived about ten million years prior to the famed Tyrant Lizard King. You can see the flat section at the top (or proximal) end of the fused metatarsals, and you can just see the bottom of the astragalus and calcaneum at the top of the photo. This leg is currently on display at the Denver Gem and Mineral Show, and can be rented or purchased from The Dinosaur Brokers. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>Gorgosaurus</i>, ballet dancers, cats, penguins, and hobbits all share one thing in common: they spend a lot of time on their toes. When you walk on the balls of your feet, you are walking like a dinosaur, cat, dog, or deer. For all of these animals, the metatarsals rarely, if ever, touch the ground, and instead help to make the leg just a bit longer. Ever wonder why a flamingo's knee bends backwards? It actually doesn't, they just have an extremely long ankle!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ6KOHprtx3YGtu0Bt3ONyO67i5WuGftqOxNQ48HzVuYouYTDREJihpCwXSi_08gayV4gPZGm-3-BpV_axijR7uhoOqgsgOIoWelgsrxUw08dhKcbQoX-zA2IZD6B3_G1ETTF9Z5olQ/s640/blogger-image-1354543622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ6KOHprtx3YGtu0Bt3ONyO67i5WuGftqOxNQ48HzVuYouYTDREJihpCwXSi_08gayV4gPZGm-3-BpV_axijR7uhoOqgsgOIoWelgsrxUw08dhKcbQoX-zA2IZD6B3_G1ETTF9Z5olQ/s640/blogger-image-1354543622.jpg"></a></div>Here's how I would walk if I was a dinosaur, dog, cat, bird, or deer....</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwbuXK6hfW35DWiQSI8NF2nm4S_IhZkSahkNxAjcdDuN7REzMoiZaOvGpyqZ7UbRvbv1W8Y-Zsu847zQw9xogqF8XBGRVpMGs3nALIsC4gXMgiIhOCuIYBv8GpYT6g5tCqXMXmxNOmw/s640/blogger-image--1335337838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwbuXK6hfW35DWiQSI8NF2nm4S_IhZkSahkNxAjcdDuN7REzMoiZaOvGpyqZ7UbRvbv1W8Y-Zsu847zQw9xogqF8XBGRVpMGs3nALIsC4gXMgiIhOCuIYBv8GpYT6g5tCqXMXmxNOmw/s640/blogger-image--1335337838.jpg"></a></div>....and here's how I would walk if I was a human, bear, or raccoon. </div><div><br></div><div>During the 1800s, a man named Alfred Hitchcock was able to glean fantastic insight into dinosaur anatomy simply by studying their fossil footprints in the Connecticut River Valley. Reverend Hitchcock determined that these animals looked like modern birds, walking on their toes, and their tails held well off the ground. Some critics of Hitchcock point out that the good Reverend never actually said that his bird-like track makers were dinosaurs. At the time, however, the best scientific minds in Europe believed dinosaurs were colossal, lumbering quadrupedal behemoths, with sprawling legs, a crocodile-like gait, and mammal-like paws. No one in their right mind would have put the two together, and Hitchcock was clearly blessed with a brilliant, highly analytical mind. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyTkhNekivj3ypPY4sCWluiZ3KJg_t9AXD64eZInOvS1LWryrbsc3sk2qmjSPrxhXvgXsfSezzL7TFnKuIcgDf7LHgNWWCwiHA_2iPMoJYBtV4mPdxResv_DeSxR9U5DcA7HY6n7EBQ/s640/blogger-image--503144403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyTkhNekivj3ypPY4sCWluiZ3KJg_t9AXD64eZInOvS1LWryrbsc3sk2qmjSPrxhXvgXsfSezzL7TFnKuIcgDf7LHgNWWCwiHA_2iPMoJYBtV4mPdxResv_DeSxR9U5DcA7HY6n7EBQ/s640/blogger-image--503144403.jpg"></a></div>The foot of the primitive, Late Triassic dinosaur <i>Herrerasaurus</i>, also from The Dinosaur Brokers. Notice that, unlike the <i>Gorgosaurus</i> (who would live nearly 160 million years later), the metatarsal bones have undergone fusion to a much lesser degree. </div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-44206213482805936982015-06-26T23:28:00.001-06:002015-06-27T16:26:45.058-06:00Prominent Cheekbones: Abe Lincoln, Peter Cushing, and ArchaeotheriumToday at the <a href="http://mnhm.org/246/Morrison-Natural-History-Museum" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>, I ended up talking with <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20T.%20Bakker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dr. Robert Bakker</span></a> about the development of pronounced cheekbones in various groups of animals. The flared cheekbones of the animals presented in this post would have almost certainly been <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Display%20Structure" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">used primarily for display</span></a>, both to attract a mate and to appear larger against rivals and predators (i.e. a bull <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Elephant" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">elephant</span></a> flapping its ears, or your <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Feline" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">cat</span></a> arching her back and raising her hair to appear larger and more intimidating). What's interesting is that, unlike some display structures (think the plates on the back of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">stegosaurs</span></a> and the fin on the back of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Spinosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Spinosaurus</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dimetrodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dimetrodon</span></a></i>), most of these cheekbone structures are derived from the same bone, the jugal (or as we refer to it in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammals</span></a>, the zygomatic). Dr. Bob suggested that the cheeks might consistently evolve for display due to the fact that they are so close to the eye, and eyes can be pretty dang important for behavioral interactions. Given the frequency with which the flared cheekbones has evolved, and the enormous disparity between the animals who have evolved it, there has to be some explanation! Here's a look at some animals with those prominent cheekbones, arranged in order from oldest (geologically speaking) to youngest. And a special shoutout to Dr. Bob for helping me out with this post, and for letting me use his images of <i>Hypsognathus</i> (apparently pronounced with a silent "g"), and <i>Archaeotherium</i>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1BS1K7DzxeE5jG3RrEmAesrqT8_00TyIlI7m3DMdAGwQkn0SWPbqA77FjORVTBsg5KTghrYtQj79othQrJYHRWADyt5HpQUlFACTsvuA-n_jDR2lDLIsw352Cqc5ai5HgqOpQWUI6A/s1600/Pareiasaur+Bradysaurus+baini+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Field+Museum+of+Natural+History+FMNH+in+Chicago+Illinois+with+Mona+Kamath+visiting+Claire+Chen+Permian+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1BS1K7DzxeE5jG3RrEmAesrqT8_00TyIlI7m3DMdAGwQkn0SWPbqA77FjORVTBsg5KTghrYtQj79othQrJYHRWADyt5HpQUlFACTsvuA-n_jDR2lDLIsw352Cqc5ai5HgqOpQWUI6A/s400/Pareiasaur+Bradysaurus+baini+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Field+Museum+of+Natural+History+FMNH+in+Chicago+Illinois+with+Mona+Kamath+visiting+Claire+Chen+Permian+South+Africa+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bradysaurus</i>, a large pareiasaur <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptile</span></a> from the Middle <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Permian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Permian Period</span></a> of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Africa</span></a>. You can see both the flaring cheekbones, as well as two smaller bumps pointing downwards from the jaw, on this specimen. I got to see this guy six days ago at the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) in Chicago, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Illinois" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Illinois</span></a>! As requested by the Field Museum, this photo is Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WR6u3ob61PDyRmEYvtAo4_pBDB3xf20GN7x0g19dS2Ya6DrqtcFHYwMgqWZSySFKpP-fIUjz3-mCub3xP8NiSJiMS6xCVwniXXZtUk8TNQhIAStbvD3e0a0Ryx2gDuqjlgZfTQh5rQ/s1600/Scutosaurus+karpinskii+sauropsid+from+the+late+permian+of+Russia+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WR6u3ob61PDyRmEYvtAo4_pBDB3xf20GN7x0g19dS2Ya6DrqtcFHYwMgqWZSySFKpP-fIUjz3-mCub3xP8NiSJiMS6xCVwniXXZtUk8TNQhIAStbvD3e0a0Ryx2gDuqjlgZfTQh5rQ/s400/Scutosaurus+karpinskii+sauropsid+from+the+late+permian+of+Russia+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Scutosaurus karpinskii</i>, another pareiasaur, but from the Late Permian Period of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Russia" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Russia</span></a>. Although the skull looks slightly crushed, you can still easily see the massive, sharply pointed cheekbones of the animal. Specimen on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/AMNH" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">New York</span></a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YycbaLySX12nhIgIdsJTcTvBhn2KCPkIUpweA9wi9bZ46Sgs4fEX4cNK9xQphnxWIwLRDMcgIiLn3JEJZK9pQ-oN7p47v43dENpq1cljFpp6D-4Tl20plbe8-hAOCf_LZERDW6p5Jw/s1600/Hall-Hypsoghhicontrastsmall+Hypsognathus+a+small+procolophonid+parareptile+from+New+Jersey+by+Dr.+Robert+T.+Bakker+copyright+robert+t.+bakker+from+the+dinosaur+heresies+Used+with+permission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YycbaLySX12nhIgIdsJTcTvBhn2KCPkIUpweA9wi9bZ46Sgs4fEX4cNK9xQphnxWIwLRDMcgIiLn3JEJZK9pQ-oN7p47v43dENpq1cljFpp6D-4Tl20plbe8-hAOCf_LZERDW6p5Jw/s400/Hall-Hypsoghhicontrastsmall+Hypsognathus+a+small+procolophonid+parareptile+from+New+Jersey+by+Dr.+Robert+T.+Bakker+copyright+robert+t.+bakker+from+the+dinosaur+heresies+Used+with+permission.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An illustration of <i>Hypsognathus</i>, a procolophonid reptile from New Jersey. This animal lived during the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Triassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Triassic Period</span></a>, at the same time as the earliest <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaurs</span></a>. Check out those crazy massive cheekbones! Thanks again, Dr. Bob, for letting me use this photo. Photo Credit and Copyright: Dr. Robert T. Bakker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-Nu6VyS9Chxtvo9DCWxX3HQung0NhqT4e0GyC2ZMU8LZ36WwlRxB8qfsbXday788jh6bIB29m9tP0kCm2gl9sm_iq4BTbEEyb-M7w41cI0Fvq7UOOcwL7vJFiP9yzQPf0yUXPW8Nug/s1600/Psittacosaurus+skull+cast+rear+view+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Colorado+braincase+and+flared+cheekbones+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-Nu6VyS9Chxtvo9DCWxX3HQung0NhqT4e0GyC2ZMU8LZ36WwlRxB8qfsbXday788jh6bIB29m9tP0kCm2gl9sm_iq4BTbEEyb-M7w41cI0Fvq7UOOcwL7vJFiP9yzQPf0yUXPW8Nug/s400/Psittacosaurus+skull+cast+rear+view+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Colorado+braincase+and+flared+cheekbones+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skull of the small, primitive <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ceratopsian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ceratopsian</span></a> dinosaur <i><a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Psittacosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Psittacosaurus</span></a></i>, from the <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Early%20Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Early Cretaceous</span></a> of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Asia" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Asia</span></a>. I originally took this picture to compare the braincase of different ceratopsian dinosaurs (note the interesting ball-and-socket joint where the head articulates to the neck), which is why it's from behind. But it does a nice job of demonstrating the flaring of the cheekbones. The ceratopsian dinosaurs often have very nicely flared jugals, and in later ceratopsians, they would actually evolve the epijugal, a separate bone, like the nasal horn of the same group. This specimen cast is in the collections of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ8AwrytSprCu7Qiqk0H1Z0jHUdtuHDDaryOBe3TNzjJWQHgnU522OrT4hg3qY2wMPGvwSfaaxZ2MTWoOfCHMiBn0jnYy0NFTv7gfSGPUYlOr4rQwZnwZ9FiE6EzUBk3V9RkxkbiVzA/s1600/Protoceratops+andrewsi+skull+cast+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+WDC+in+Thermopolis+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Period+of+Mongolia+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ8AwrytSprCu7Qiqk0H1Z0jHUdtuHDDaryOBe3TNzjJWQHgnU522OrT4hg3qY2wMPGvwSfaaxZ2MTWoOfCHMiBn0jnYy0NFTv7gfSGPUYlOr4rQwZnwZ9FiE6EzUBk3V9RkxkbiVzA/s400/Protoceratops+andrewsi+skull+cast+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+WDC+in+Thermopolis+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Period+of+Mongolia+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head-on view of a <i><a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Protoceratops" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Protoceratops</span></a></i> <i>andrewsi</i> skull cast at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Wyoming" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Wyoming</span></a>. Although not as pronounced as the cheeks of <i>Psittacosaurus</i>, <i>Protoceratops</i>, from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Cretaceous</span></a> of Mongolia, does still have those flared cheekbones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifz0k8PMQYeGe5edtz639IR_XYq9nftyZja7fvY4dI0q_Nj2PxEC7s_oqevolUQJa4PRWVAR1IMbID3oaN-TRLO6rHtpS-SJjwt9YB3B1gUJePlvrYxSvAcMWwjKDyld3hB9RFmiLp2w/s1600/Ceratops+montanus+skull+on+display+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+BWDS+Dino+Hotel+on+Wadsworth+in+Lakewood+Colorado+Black+Hills+Institute+cast+Late+Cretaceous+Judith+River+Formation+Montana+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifz0k8PMQYeGe5edtz639IR_XYq9nftyZja7fvY4dI0q_Nj2PxEC7s_oqevolUQJa4PRWVAR1IMbID3oaN-TRLO6rHtpS-SJjwt9YB3B1gUJePlvrYxSvAcMWwjKDyld3hB9RFmiLp2w/s400/Ceratops+montanus+skull+on+display+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+BWDS+Dino+Hotel+on+Wadsworth+in+Lakewood+Colorado+Black+Hills+Institute+cast+Late+Cretaceous+Judith+River+Formation+Montana+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skull of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ceratops" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ceratops montanus</span></a></i>, on display at the <a href="http://www.bestwesterndenver.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Best Western Denver Southwest "Dino Hotel"</span></a> in Lakewood, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>. Noticeable jugal flare, but not as pronounced as it is in other ceratopsian dinosaurs like <i>Psittacosaurus</i> or <i>Pentaceratops</i>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3Gi8t8cK-WapTyit5JzNnm6ugx2kGdUpg4fgngCOeYlKL8Kia-IUDn4uuuuqmgCGb9fxcMHhbmUcdFoSGfYudLjhb-5UJCV1LVm7BJYNucQKEHcDPeQ9ZfWS9QlzhJV2VbYDIm3JFw/s1600/Triceratops+skull+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3Gi8t8cK-WapTyit5JzNnm6ugx2kGdUpg4fgngCOeYlKL8Kia-IUDn4uuuuqmgCGb9fxcMHhbmUcdFoSGfYudLjhb-5UJCV1LVm7BJYNucQKEHcDPeQ9ZfWS9QlzhJV2VbYDIm3JFw/s400/Triceratops+skull+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most famous ceratopsian dinosaur of all, <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Triceratops" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Triceratops</span></a></i>. <i>Triceratops</i> has decent-sized jugal flares, but nowhere near as pronounced as those of <i>Pentaceratops</i>, whose name actually derives from those two extra horns on the cheeks, bringing their grand total of horns up to five (versus the two brow horns and the nasal horn of <i>Triceratops</i>, the "three-horned face"). <i>Triceratops</i>, from the Late Cretaceous Period of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North America</span></a>, was first found in Denver, Colorado, and this skull cast can be seen on display at the Morrison Natural History Museum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWs33qAy_7xSVcPRH11VZ1t4_Gp0xqXhFuyDe5xfc2fxHaA5LPb81rQI_P_0gUqvFYf_zBa2b1GWUpAkEVEAsy_9zB9xeAAmID61ITg9mqZMs1uYuk_IEwundIYuJkwb-y7_MVmmXJow/s1600/Ankylosaurus+magniventris+ankylosaur+dinosaur+skull+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Late+Cretaceous+Alberta+Canada+collected+by+Barnum+Brown+from+the+Red+Deer+River+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWs33qAy_7xSVcPRH11VZ1t4_Gp0xqXhFuyDe5xfc2fxHaA5LPb81rQI_P_0gUqvFYf_zBa2b1GWUpAkEVEAsy_9zB9xeAAmID61ITg9mqZMs1uYuk_IEwundIYuJkwb-y7_MVmmXJow/s400/Ankylosaurus+magniventris+ankylosaur+dinosaur+skull+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Late+Cretaceous+Alberta+Canada+collected+by+Barnum+Brown+from+the+Red+Deer+River+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skull of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ankylosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ankylosaur</span></a> dinosaur <i>Ankylosaurus magniventris</i> from the Late Cretaceous of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Alberta" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Alberta</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Canada" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Canada</span></a>. Although flared cheeks are visible, they aren't as pronounced as they are in many of the animals we have looked at in this post.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAjvWFybL93LkpbOpmPUNjXToYwflnn3Ujl-hpITI4WxWHHJQMRUTceRXrGMtJD0olN_TzPKFHhX5_QAiDAHWU_jP2iUXszZ5bH8QUDZpZkPiCUYiW7v95A0s0yLUAZ9v2xJShoa8ag/s1600/Male+Archaoetherium+entelodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+more+Flared+cheekbones+than+the+female+Sexual+dimorphism+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAjvWFybL93LkpbOpmPUNjXToYwflnn3Ujl-hpITI4WxWHHJQMRUTceRXrGMtJD0olN_TzPKFHhX5_QAiDAHWU_jP2iUXszZ5bH8QUDZpZkPiCUYiW7v95A0s0yLUAZ9v2xJShoa8ag/s400/Male+Archaoetherium+entelodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+more+Flared+cheekbones+than+the+female+Sexual+dimorphism+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side-view of the skull of <i>Archaeotherium</i>, an <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Entelodont" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">entelodont</span></a> mammal from the Late Paleogene. Two morphs of <i>Archaeotherium</i> have been discovered, one with more pronounced cheekbones, the other with less pronounced cheekbones. Most <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologists</span></a> suspect that the male <i>Archaeotherium</i> had the pronounced cheekbones, and the females had the less pronounced cheekbones, a classic case of sexual dimorphism. Skeleton on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/DMNS" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS)</span></a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMgrTOqYg5fgXP_D1dUa1ksWDAJ6zIk5UsQEy_uiRz0MNqXJlCGiq6an9HA6MlECvXFk_-rqJoxuaabDlICPDdEvrychf9ldY2QTzLlNBH_w-V5-dIY7-FYKVGkQUINSP1C1lal-TBA/s1600/Female+Archaoetherium+entelodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+less+Flared+cheekbones+than+the+male+sexual+dimorphism+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMgrTOqYg5fgXP_D1dUa1ksWDAJ6zIk5UsQEy_uiRz0MNqXJlCGiq6an9HA6MlECvXFk_-rqJoxuaabDlICPDdEvrychf9ldY2QTzLlNBH_w-V5-dIY7-FYKVGkQUINSP1C1lal-TBA/s400/Female+Archaoetherium+entelodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+less+Flared+cheekbones+than+the+male+sexual+dimorphism+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG.JPG" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female <i>Archaeotherium</i>, also on display at the DMNS. Compare the cheekbones with the male in the picture above, and you can definitely see a difference.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qEPWm3SIlBQde1OMsJCwkYFCO4bgdmAH671nicMBnHrr0E8KyoKMEGNbNUupfrnu1H5HFYkMUlobnohFGptLPUdcT7ou4IAVf27jK0mugseZ_tNXS9JAnESYIr2z5BeecxYCHFL6ng/s1600/Male+Archaoetherium+entelodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+more+Flared+cheekbones+than+the+female+Sexual+dimorphism+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qEPWm3SIlBQde1OMsJCwkYFCO4bgdmAH671nicMBnHrr0E8KyoKMEGNbNUupfrnu1H5HFYkMUlobnohFGptLPUdcT7ou4IAVf27jK0mugseZ_tNXS9JAnESYIr2z5BeecxYCHFL6ng/s400/Male+Archaoetherium+entelodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+more+Flared+cheekbones+than+the+female+Sexual+dimorphism+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dramatic, frontal view of the male <i>Archaeotherium</i>, and you can immediately see how pronounced those cheekbones are. Peter Cushing wishes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3mUVtItFEzf4zOK9NcCqnbJp-8L6WiR_T-mhMyNhE9abtdqafiIm0_DgYXw9d_8NTnKu2IoygUxJ7YTsvRlJJFyPhj_Lr1bVrZddswXWcs4X57ps8smJFDGCvhZuGKBGW23PUEBDQw/s1600/archaeotherium+skeleton+by+Dr.+Robert+T.+Bakker+copyright+dr.+robert+t.+bakker+used+with+permission+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3mUVtItFEzf4zOK9NcCqnbJp-8L6WiR_T-mhMyNhE9abtdqafiIm0_DgYXw9d_8NTnKu2IoygUxJ7YTsvRlJJFyPhj_Lr1bVrZddswXWcs4X57ps8smJFDGCvhZuGKBGW23PUEBDQw/s400/archaeotherium+skeleton+by+Dr.+Robert+T.+Bakker+copyright+dr.+robert+t.+bakker+used+with+permission+.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An illustration of the skeleton of <i>Archaeotherium</i>. You can see how pronounced the cheekbones of the animal are, even in profile. Much thanks to Dr. Bob for letting me use this illustration as well! Photo Credit and Copyright: Dr. Robert T. Bakker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8KysX_6Yc9GbQO_cqAgU0Rg8oi84QlFkN4rtvh-vCqEwJdB5BKCNdSL0rBS2rMT9FOzyJAAuqbtIO16nN6-xiIgprdkwD9RGE4thwObTQ11kJmXEPDlAq2tHZAlnep92DEhaTHe49A/s1600/Dinohyus+giant+entelodont+skull+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8KysX_6Yc9GbQO_cqAgU0Rg8oi84QlFkN4rtvh-vCqEwJdB5BKCNdSL0rBS2rMT9FOzyJAAuqbtIO16nN6-xiIgprdkwD9RGE4thwObTQ11kJmXEPDlAq2tHZAlnep92DEhaTHe49A/s400/Dinohyus+giant+entelodont+skull+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+DMNS+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another entelodont, <i>Dinohyus</i>, also on display at the DMNS. Dinohyus, from the Early Neogene, is much larger and more robust than <i>Archaeotherium</i>, and still has some nicely pronounced cheekbones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNwqemQPvrow4qApdWllE3na2Xlu8aPye0ycYdCWJ-Gs4V3lw2rmkbV75zmBHiNK-7JNSnMWlIFW4jXn1QOCB63cqTITweFcREcUXkfRBWCvbrfn3Tayb5t3iQHZQgOkJLuaAVp6yHQ/s1600/Macrogenis+crassigenis+extinct+fossil+peccary+skull+collected+from+Nebraska+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNwqemQPvrow4qApdWllE3na2Xlu8aPye0ycYdCWJ-Gs4V3lw2rmkbV75zmBHiNK-7JNSnMWlIFW4jXn1QOCB63cqTITweFcREcUXkfRBWCvbrfn3Tayb5t3iQHZQgOkJLuaAVp6yHQ/s400/Macrogenis+crassigenis+extinct+fossil+peccary+skull+collected+from+Nebraska+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skull of the Neogene <i>Macrogenis crassigenis</i>, an extinct peccary from Nebraska. I really wish that I'd gotten a picture of this skull straight-on, but even in profile you can see how strange the enormous cheeks of this animal are. On display at the AMNH.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLil2kuBaBtY-G2JGk4LBFnaz4eVfj9wNiNqRYr-06_tMzsWeMC0jq_aW-Rr24410lrtN_FpIjmMPX7uqDrIHhAscAd873pro3M2cTY_Bh0ttM2u_4HzkKz3Vtc5CuN7psgMS0N5pIw/s1600/Panochthus+frenzelianus+glyptodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+End+of+the+Last+Ice+Age+Pleistocene+Epoch+Buenos+Aires+Argentina+South+America+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLil2kuBaBtY-G2JGk4LBFnaz4eVfj9wNiNqRYr-06_tMzsWeMC0jq_aW-Rr24410lrtN_FpIjmMPX7uqDrIHhAscAd873pro3M2cTY_Bh0ttM2u_4HzkKz3Vtc5CuN7psgMS0N5pIw/s400/Panochthus+frenzelianus+glyptodont+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+End+of+the+Last+Ice+Age+Pleistocene+Epoch+Buenos+Aires+Argentina+South+America+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The skull of the massive, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Armadillo" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">armadillo</span></a>-like <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Glyptodont" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">glyptodont</span></a> <i>Panochthus frenzelianus</i>, from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pleistocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pleistocene</span></a> of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Argentina" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Argentina</span></a>. Some glyptodonts, as well as their cousins the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giant%20Ground%20Sloth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giant ground sloths</span></a>, have large cheekbones. Also on display at the AMNH.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCS5qf2PFxrbhpRexsZTjvorNTFS89zxUeggRCjYnWJmET0p7lBm38Zs9lhZ3cyNR-RZmQ7R3cMVsyOyOMp-wcmkJaigmOG2ny86phEMe6ZIuIr363wGDPnGLidL_0sgUdyc63zaNcA/s1600/Common+warthog+Phacochoerus+africanus+at+the+Animal+World+and+Texas+Snake+Farm+Petting+Zoo+and+Exotic+Animal+Park+in+San+Antonio+Texas+from+Africa+with+Mark+Neher+Julie+Neher+and+Dani+Neher+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCS5qf2PFxrbhpRexsZTjvorNTFS89zxUeggRCjYnWJmET0p7lBm38Zs9lhZ3cyNR-RZmQ7R3cMVsyOyOMp-wcmkJaigmOG2ny86phEMe6ZIuIr363wGDPnGLidL_0sgUdyc63zaNcA/s400/Common+warthog+Phacochoerus+africanus+at+the+Animal+World+and+Texas+Snake+Farm+Petting+Zoo+and+Exotic+Animal+Park+in+San+Antonio+Texas+from+Africa+with+Mark+Neher+Julie+Neher+and+Dani+Neher+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, even some modern animals have the enlarged cheekbones! Here, we have a common warthog (<i>Phacochoerus africanus</i>) at The Snake Farm in New Braunfels, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Texas" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Texas</span></a>. It's difficult to see the left cheek of the animal, but the right cheek is nicely delineated against the background of the picture.</td></tr>
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As you can see, the prominent cheekbones have evolved many times over the last several hundred million years. Display seems like the most obvious and the most likely answer to the evolution of these structures, and it would have been quite exciting to see a pair of pareiasaurs squaring off during the breeding season. Instead, to get your daily dose of prominent cheekbones, you'll just have to find something starring Peter Cushing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-25847320193269729232015-06-15T16:47:00.001-06:002015-06-27T16:53:28.492-06:00Jurassic World: Facultative BipedalismIn the new <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jurassic%20World" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jurassic World</span></a> movie, the main movie monster is a critter that the movie characters called <i>Indominus rex</i>. The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a> is a big guy, and its forearms are especially large, especially when compared to the tiny arms of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus rex</span></a></i>. There were a few funky things going on with the Jurassic World dinosaur hands, but we can talk about that in a later post. Today, we are going to talk about an interesting type of behavior exhibited by <i>Indominus</i>: facultative bipedalism.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroGCPhKwvJ4FvB3uyt0onD3AuhFIhXhfUZ9aIbYadsajCEImgxS2Xn_JI1DJGNBG03W2qDWI9_weDSR3waeoFu-n9FFUVHqCdnnimdxrybrmhnZsv_qlOewZgwixcRpFTiCdkKPLu0w/s1600/Baby+bipedal+and+quadrupedal+facultative+biped+Stegosaurus+models+life+size+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroGCPhKwvJ4FvB3uyt0onD3AuhFIhXhfUZ9aIbYadsajCEImgxS2Xn_JI1DJGNBG03W2qDWI9_weDSR3waeoFu-n9FFUVHqCdnnimdxrybrmhnZsv_qlOewZgwixcRpFTiCdkKPLu0w/s400/Baby+bipedal+and+quadrupedal+facultative+biped+Stegosaurus+models+life+size+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two baby <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stegosaurus</span></a></i> models on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>. <i>Stegosaurus</i> individuals of all sizes would have been able to switch between walking on two and four legs, facultative bipedalism, which is the topic of this post.</td></tr>
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Facultative bipedalism is an animal that can walk on both two or four legs, at least for a little bit. For example, the <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Gerenuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gerenuk</span></a> (<i>Litocranius walleri</i>), a type of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">African</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Antelope" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">antelope</span></a>, can rear up on their hind legs to nab plants off of some higher branches. But they can't really walk on their hind legs, so they wouldn't really be considered facultative bipeds. My little Djungarian hamster (<i>Phodopus sungorus</i>) will lean back on his hind limbs to manipulate food with his forepaws, as do many other types of rodents. Meerkats (<i>Suricata suricatta</i>) often sit on their hind legs to observe their surroundings. The extinct <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giant%20Ground%20Sloth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giant ground sloths</span></a> would have reclined on their haunches to browse from the higher branches of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tree" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">trees</span></a>. But none of them would have moved around on their hind limbs, and therefore would not be classified as bipeds, facultative or otherwise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EAsKRCSgj-JtiLPkCYNXgt_mVuKMy_oZX64ysUmjl-5gaW4mlAzKnp_cv1tREJDksg17UJdNXHKUnCNauraYmjbg2bZ1p1-aL3aNgp9o_WRPYKS-YLZ9M89q-CfxaZNGg3Nm-7pAHQ/s1600/Gerenuk+Litocranius+walleri+Standing+on+their+Back+Legs+at+Walt+Disney+World%2527s+Animal+Kingdom+in+Florida+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EAsKRCSgj-JtiLPkCYNXgt_mVuKMy_oZX64ysUmjl-5gaW4mlAzKnp_cv1tREJDksg17UJdNXHKUnCNauraYmjbg2bZ1p1-aL3aNgp9o_WRPYKS-YLZ9M89q-CfxaZNGg3Nm-7pAHQ/s400/Gerenuk+Litocranius+walleri+Standing+on+their+Back+Legs+at+Walt+Disney+World%2527s+Animal+Kingdom+in+Florida+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several gerenuk at Walt Disney World in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Florida" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Florida</span></a> using their hind legs to eat some food off of the higher branches. Photo Credit: <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Julie%20Neher" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Julie Neher</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-q0itSfbUJv8DCDXNMvrd41qwTkU_il65UOfiFsjgn75VytvXyLQwieN_ieuRhxnqhQXz11nVlIK4R1f4KQao1RjLxhHpVU38MkGm8vbmFDPPp3rVzbh1HZZuPSM0VJ_Bb0Wr5oCwg/s1600/Golden+mantled+ground+squirrel+callospermophilus+lateralis+eating+some+food+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-q0itSfbUJv8DCDXNMvrd41qwTkU_il65UOfiFsjgn75VytvXyLQwieN_ieuRhxnqhQXz11nVlIK4R1f4KQao1RjLxhHpVU38MkGm8vbmFDPPp3rVzbh1HZZuPSM0VJ_Bb0Wr5oCwg/s400/Golden+mantled+ground+squirrel+callospermophilus+lateralis+eating+some+food+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Golden%20Mantled%20Ground%20Squirrel" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">golden-mantled ground squirrel</span></a> (<i>Callospermophilus lateralis</i>) using its forepaws to manipulate its meal at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/CMZ" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cheyenne Mountain Zoo</span></a> in Colorado Springs. Forepaw manipulation is something that many <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rodent" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rodents</span></a> can do. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONapZs2yPvqwd5hVzJc4vmbQWhH9M5FdPF8h4sNzdvTMKSutv4m78yyh2ouRuLHiNuOO84g2aj__IYRmgPe35cu-coX2N8LqhKcl_effg6oSYMS8-8ZlV2F8qbqnZAAZKLDEqgj7zSg/s1600/North+American+porcupine+Erethizon+dorsatum+using+its+forepaws+to+manipulate+food+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONapZs2yPvqwd5hVzJc4vmbQWhH9M5FdPF8h4sNzdvTMKSutv4m78yyh2ouRuLHiNuOO84g2aj__IYRmgPe35cu-coX2N8LqhKcl_effg6oSYMS8-8ZlV2F8qbqnZAAZKLDEqgj7zSg/s400/North+American+porcupine+Erethizon+dorsatum+using+its+forepaws+to+manipulate+food+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another rodent manipulating an object with its forepaws. This North American porcupine (<i>Erethizon dorsatum</i>), also at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, is holding a primitive slingshot weapon. Zookeepers have had a very difficult time controlling these animals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIykuxU6nyadP2RV3YQx0gFLDLdMhokpinDV7QjZFP0i9wisCbbEJrYPvO3rxRIVucJCvyWs9D_xM5138h6xDqQ-Iyn_yEZwTUrHprIc6pQyOTPd5ZZswkPNrN1ZDlKZV_xZvIr7S6w/s1600/Meerkat+suricata+suricatta+on+its+hind+legs+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springd+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIykuxU6nyadP2RV3YQx0gFLDLdMhokpinDV7QjZFP0i9wisCbbEJrYPvO3rxRIVucJCvyWs9D_xM5138h6xDqQ-Iyn_yEZwTUrHprIc6pQyOTPd5ZZswkPNrN1ZDlKZV_xZvIr7S6w/s400/Meerkat+suricata+suricatta+on+its+hind+legs+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springd+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A meerkat at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, using part of its termite mound as a lookout area. It'll stand on its hind legs, but runs around on all fours. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YjnG7Q7kN1kQzhSaC8ILuFjC4aOTW5X7zS69qcsPqMalcsdxsMIWAluXS0XihbZacWUhALPD5JIHvjmJRdbJZpSL3IsY9UUZeRQaK6XOzOgL3j5Y_mbw5-Gxm7cB9hxU4QDvUzV7AA/s1600/Jefferson%2527s+Ground+Sloth+Megalonyx+jeffersoni+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+on+its+hindlimbs+bipedal+facultative+biped+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YjnG7Q7kN1kQzhSaC8ILuFjC4aOTW5X7zS69qcsPqMalcsdxsMIWAluXS0XihbZacWUhALPD5JIHvjmJRdbJZpSL3IsY9UUZeRQaK6XOzOgL3j5Y_mbw5-Gxm7cB9hxU4QDvUzV7AA/s400/Jefferson%2527s+Ground+Sloth+Megalonyx+jeffersoni+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+on+its+hindlimbs+bipedal+facultative+biped+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Jefferson's ground <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sloth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sloth</span></a> (<i>Megalonyx jeffersoni</i>) exaggerates the size of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fish</span></a> it caught last summer at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center (RMDRC) in Woodland Park, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>. Just like the gerenuk, the ground sloths would have reared up on their hind legs to consume vegetation off of a higher level.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPmiZxIpPBI37QzghJLh8R6kogZH8eI0LJNO1b_8-nTL9ZXr_sj2382FNKGCDsJulSXE10uQ0A4MzEPJcb_E1JF0fY58G5yqn1sP_sfswlAb8fSXFGCywrWl3YxifQLNOvFWrhhQOjg/s1600/Glossotherium+giant+ground+sloth+skeleton+walking+on+all+four+legs+quadrupedally+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPmiZxIpPBI37QzghJLh8R6kogZH8eI0LJNO1b_8-nTL9ZXr_sj2382FNKGCDsJulSXE10uQ0A4MzEPJcb_E1JF0fY58G5yqn1sP_sfswlAb8fSXFGCywrWl3YxifQLNOvFWrhhQOjg/s400/Glossotherium+giant+ground+sloth+skeleton+walking+on+all+four+legs+quadrupedally+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Glossotherium" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Glossotherium</span></a></i> skeleton on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/AMNHhttp://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/AMNH" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">American Museum of Natural History</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">New York</span></a>, walking quadrupedally.</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Duck" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">duck</span></a>-billed <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hadrosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hadrosaur</span></a> dinosaurs and the iguanodonts are good examples of facultative bipeds. They would have been capable of moving around on both two or four legs, depending on whether they were grazing lazily (quadrupedal) or moving more quickly (bipedal).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_JXKNFNT1GQZJSIUA3hkwZHFLB5DYnwXpm5U_JaC831cvmsVdrnrFS-axGW5OyVQcEOZWPmsaYb0sJEx9DQWGWvLKoqKUg6_KqEZzgIkTtRj47E-zG2aNo9SMUpO37VMVcoA4DAPiw/s1600/Anatotitan+quadruped+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_JXKNFNT1GQZJSIUA3hkwZHFLB5DYnwXpm5U_JaC831cvmsVdrnrFS-axGW5OyVQcEOZWPmsaYb0sJEx9DQWGWvLKoqKUg6_KqEZzgIkTtRj47E-zG2aNo9SMUpO37VMVcoA4DAPiw/s400/Anatotitan+quadruped+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An <i>Anatotitan</i> skeleton on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. You can see this skeleton is moving around on all fours....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYSfJunoKtS6nQh6Db8Mwq1JqKtXS25IBJeW6gWn73Q5M9Ds-WxgnWs_-8Iih_RSzVabKZbujTxllKB6vyH97bB6FzBEPAstVP5P25mexNe6IiKx8V4FhJGi2hSUMv88Eq7rZsZK4Ug/s1600/Anatotitan+biped+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYSfJunoKtS6nQh6Db8Mwq1JqKtXS25IBJeW6gWn73Q5M9Ds-WxgnWs_-8Iih_RSzVabKZbujTxllKB6vyH97bB6FzBEPAstVP5P25mexNe6IiKx8V4FhJGi2hSUMv88Eq7rZsZK4Ug/s400/Anatotitan+biped+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....but the animal could also walk bipedally.</td></tr>
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<i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stegosaurus</span></a></i> was initially thought to be bipedal, and although most modern reconstructions show the armored dinosaur as a quadruped, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fossil%20Trackway" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fossil trackways</span></a> at the <a href="http://mnhm.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum (MNHM)</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a> demonstrate quite clearly that the baby <i>Stegosaurus</i>, tiny little six pound hatchlings, were entirely capable of moving around on their back legs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV5uv1dnNbplf58sbp2CbptYK2NRgU-vAtHK8IBCRasl3WVsN4FoBnEKV6hODuUjL0919cW5VB3w22w_o4vJCkQEN_Jf8FrRnuqOp0sxALqqis0RkfR85JhNXByH91sKPjDDggpEF-Q/s1600/Baby+facultative+bipedal+Stegosaurus+life+size+model+and+the+very+first+baby+stegosaurus+fossil+track+ever+discovered+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV5uv1dnNbplf58sbp2CbptYK2NRgU-vAtHK8IBCRasl3WVsN4FoBnEKV6hODuUjL0919cW5VB3w22w_o4vJCkQEN_Jf8FrRnuqOp0sxALqqis0RkfR85JhNXByH91sKPjDDggpEF-Q/s400/Baby+facultative+bipedal+Stegosaurus+life+size+model+and+the+very+first+baby+stegosaurus+fossil+track+ever+discovered+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby <i>Stegosaurus</i> model on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>, right next to the very first baby <i>Stegosaurus</i> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Track%2FFootprint" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">track</span></a> ever discovered by museum director <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Matt%20Mossbrucker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Matthew Mossbrucker</span></a> in 2007.</td></tr>
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For <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">stegosaur</span></a> and hadrosaur dinosaurs, most of their weight was centered over their hips, and the same is true of some of the long-necked dinosaurs, such as <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Apatosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Apatosaurus</span></a></i> and <i>Brontosaurus</i>. Fossil trackways of baby <i>Apatosaurus</i> at the MNHM show that the babies could run around on their hind legs, to keep up with their parents, and probably keep out of their way as well! The little baby <i>Apatosaurus</i> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Track%2FFootprint" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tracks</span></a> at the MNHM show the animal scooting along on its back legs, sort of like the modern basilisk lizard from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South America</span></a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG3IQlEDmedbgeXmdLC-7E8AOkIpBxiJlGORwrJgqIZOH7DqWJF5A45oJfGunW-XFpzeRnYju8zlRKZ7-sEKTskPs2X5-LIrJ1hTDeiK25HX1SVwdPAtSGLzmwmyol4DtHkndi5SiXg/s1600/Baby+Apatosaurus+tracks+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Morrison+Colorado+bipedal+running+quadrupedal+facultative+biped+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG3IQlEDmedbgeXmdLC-7E8AOkIpBxiJlGORwrJgqIZOH7DqWJF5A45oJfGunW-XFpzeRnYju8zlRKZ7-sEKTskPs2X5-LIrJ1hTDeiK25HX1SVwdPAtSGLzmwmyol4DtHkndi5SiXg/s400/Baby+Apatosaurus+tracks+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+MNHM+in+Morrison+Colorado+bipedal+running+quadrupedal+facultative+biped+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two trackways made by infant apatosaur dinosaurs, on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>. The lower trackway has tracks from both the front and back feet, while the upper trackway has only hind foot tracks, and are spaced two to three times further apart than the ones in the lower trackway. This shows that these baby dinosaurs would have been capable of running around on their hind legs!</td></tr>
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Very few mammals are facultative bipeds, or even bipeds at all, with exceptions such as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pangolin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pangolins</span></a>, jerboas, and kangaroo rats, as well as the regular old <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Kangaroo" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">kangaroos</span></a>. Apparently, even cockroaches in the genus <i>Periplaneta</i> can run on their hind legs as well, if they get going fast enough!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_8gwCPsJ7HWLpg1pdQ8FXCiWEG4ZIo0Qj6yf4yodKv9gXU__QYytWonnBlbIG1VKx-gPCWyz2qurmRV0BGFylv7MZcttOr1dywMpt5T1_blGgMBZl8gtmDtueKp9XuutYBAq3_TvBw/s1600/Parma+wallaby+Macropus+parma+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+standing+on+its+hindlimbs+bipedal+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_8gwCPsJ7HWLpg1pdQ8FXCiWEG4ZIo0Qj6yf4yodKv9gXU__QYytWonnBlbIG1VKx-gPCWyz2qurmRV0BGFylv7MZcttOr1dywMpt5T1_blGgMBZl8gtmDtueKp9XuutYBAq3_TvBw/s400/Parma+wallaby+Macropus+parma+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+standing+on+its+hindlimbs+bipedal+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Parma wallaby at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, moving around on its hind limbs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jHMTANLmAW-fC1YcsybRqBHKWkPcWSUdxNVvVJwWIk2KX4dTvZ3QT8L7s482KTRohI-nWgOAzsjG44oPgvYZS6wVX9fWAudy4BwdgRrk6zh-CTEYfWB4cfU1LZB1hehrZDKgc0VdWA/s1600/Parma+wallaby+Macropus+parma+using+its+forelimbs+as+a+faculative+biped+quadruped+browsing+and+grazing+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jHMTANLmAW-fC1YcsybRqBHKWkPcWSUdxNVvVJwWIk2KX4dTvZ3QT8L7s482KTRohI-nWgOAzsjG44oPgvYZS6wVX9fWAudy4BwdgRrk6zh-CTEYfWB4cfU1LZB1hehrZDKgc0VdWA/s400/Parma+wallaby+Macropus+parma+using+its+forelimbs+as+a+faculative+biped+quadruped+browsing+and+grazing+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, you can see the same Parma wallaby, moving on all four legs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmjqcCiJi9TCwk3x9Y0YHN3bp1VhTXzl03S-U3B-kAfUq1b-RmEO0ytWoeRAn4FNLunJ5qS0Lju71ZNfuJThkDl3fGBhtlpYGF2ksFm33MFNfKVcO2ge5kfOLExKBtZlYtDvCIPoFZQ/s1600/Simosthenurus+occidentalis+fossil+kangaroo+macropod+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmjqcCiJi9TCwk3x9Y0YHN3bp1VhTXzl03S-U3B-kAfUq1b-RmEO0ytWoeRAn4FNLunJ5qS0Lju71ZNfuJThkDl3fGBhtlpYGF2ksFm33MFNfKVcO2ge5kfOLExKBtZlYtDvCIPoFZQ/s400/Simosthenurus+occidentalis+fossil+kangaroo+macropod+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mounted skeleton of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pleistocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pleistocene</span></a> kangaroo <i>Simosthenurus</i> at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. As you can see, even though it looks like its twerking, it is on its hind legs, grabbing some vegetation.</td></tr>
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Although <i>Indominus</i> was never shown really running on all four legs, and most of the time seemed like a biped, there were a few times where the beast would drop down to all four legs. At those times, <i>Indominus</i> looked a bit like some of the earliest dinosaurs might have, as well as their close cousins. <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Poposaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Poposaurus</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Postosuchus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Postosuchus</span></a></i> are both dinosaur cousins for whom the possibility of facultative bipedalism, or just regular bipedalism, has been suggested in the past. Even if those specific critters weren't facultative bipeds, there were definitely cousins of theirs that were.<br />
<br />
<br />
Works Cited:<br />
<br />
Alexander, R. (n.d.). Bipedal animals, and their differences from humans. J Anatomy Journal of Anatomy, 321-330. <br />
<br />
Weinbaum, J. (2013). Postcranial skeleton of Postosuchus kirkpatricki (Archosauria: Paracrocodylomorpha), from the Upper Triassic of the United States. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 525-553. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-20597174114314993742015-06-14T14:11:00.000-06:002015-06-15T15:44:11.952-06:00Jurassic World: Shed TeethAt one point in the new <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jurassic%20World" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jurassic World</span></a> movie, the main character Owen Grady (played by popular actor Andy Dwyer) pulls a broken <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Teeth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tooth</span></a> from the main monster <i>Indominus rex</i> from the shell of one of the Gyrospheres. Believe it or not, broken teeth just like this are incredibly important for <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologists</span></a> when it comes to studying many different aspects of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a> habits and behavior! First, let's take a quick look at the anatomy of a dinosaur tooth. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJIcyufHGA7MYt3_lIm71498v1rQmOEzzIBUPImVjq9aMswqvao3b9Rl4bQT0auDK2rXILdPbZoBufASMi0reX6GU9rtbx1XkZtr-a_UGP-cbDGd6a0cxMjBRTV2Mi4Gd-5Mw1Z9VTg/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+teeth+casts+from+Gaston+Design+tooth+with+root+and+shed+tooth+crown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJIcyufHGA7MYt3_lIm71498v1rQmOEzzIBUPImVjq9aMswqvao3b9Rl4bQT0auDK2rXILdPbZoBufASMi0reX6GU9rtbx1XkZtr-a_UGP-cbDGd6a0cxMjBRTV2Mi4Gd-5Mw1Z9VTg/s400/Tyrannosaurus+rex+teeth+casts+from+Gaston+Design+tooth+with+root+and+shed+tooth+crown.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyranosaurus rex</span></a></i> tooth casts with my camera lens for scale.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the picture above, both teeth belong to the famed tyrant <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Lizard" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">lizard</span></a> king <strike>Robert California</strike> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus rex</span></a></i> itself! The tooth on the top is larger, but it wouldn't have appeared that much larger in the mouth of the animal. The reason behind that is the darker brown part on the left of the tooth is actually the root of the tooth, and would have been inside the animals skull. The tooth underneath, the darker brown one, is a shed tooth crown. Dinosaurs, unlike <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammals</span></a>, have an infinite supply of teeth, and if they lost a tooth it simply didn't matter! They would grow another one in its place in a few weeks.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEowyMZMQO8lErmLTLMV_ral6IwbIgJPzIaEDZ6qcmwzdF1qyWk-gbimFSdyQMvNqK0URqJlqsnFfzWlmQOEgPxmBdFeb-lPZDMQgvprPW6ZrVUfIP6QwVoHJ_eZSKrSN4RORQBoGDg/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+skull+Stan+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEowyMZMQO8lErmLTLMV_ral6IwbIgJPzIaEDZ6qcmwzdF1qyWk-gbimFSdyQMvNqK0URqJlqsnFfzWlmQOEgPxmBdFeb-lPZDMQgvprPW6ZrVUfIP6QwVoHJ_eZSKrSN4RORQBoGDg/s400/Tyrannosaurus+rex+skull+Stan+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stan, the <i>Tyrannosaurus rex</i> skull on display at the <a href="http://mnhm.org/246/Morrison-Natural-History-Museum" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>. Look on the upper jaw. See the largest tooth, just about in the middle of the tooth row? Let's zoom in and take an inside look! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOxTifbj_Jh1nXY2NOwdRNZmcD-Y3WnOan_SLCbkuPQ2BJdtZ4MQfG_pPSR8LfTiLwpBmJ3IpxBamy5WfNEpZxcfQEHMvCcrSTJry8XSDw9iEn3z5YoDCvv219XoOZhNptBUN0Z04zA/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+Stan+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOxTifbj_Jh1nXY2NOwdRNZmcD-Y3WnOan_SLCbkuPQ2BJdtZ4MQfG_pPSR8LfTiLwpBmJ3IpxBamy5WfNEpZxcfQEHMvCcrSTJry8XSDw9iEn3z5YoDCvv219XoOZhNptBUN0Z04zA/s400/Tyrannosaurus+rex+Stan+cast+on+display+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a view from the inside of the <i>Tyrannosaurus skull</i> from above, a view that the lawyer from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jurassic%20Park" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jurassic Park</span></a> probably didn't find quite as fascinating. See the largest tooth in the middle of the picture? Notice how there's another little bump at the top of the tooth row, where the teeth are emerging from the maxilla bone. That's actually another tooth growing in underneath! If we CT scanned the original fossil, you'd be able to see all sorts of teeth growing in underneath!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r_WZdOW4JxpRiOtcEEPasy0nhBe5nb9My1Oh3YXVQC4d4ByGUJzOGApyAPZ2SnT2DQG7YQryU9LWkBfSm0fNoeO2grW_T2l-h358jfDOV8ORj11-0qvmFNo6pDBh2AizX-vDA6e-Ow/s1600/Triceratops+prorsus+dentary+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+South+Carolina+at+the+College+of+Charleston+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r_WZdOW4JxpRiOtcEEPasy0nhBe5nb9My1Oh3YXVQC4d4ByGUJzOGApyAPZ2SnT2DQG7YQryU9LWkBfSm0fNoeO2grW_T2l-h358jfDOV8ORj11-0qvmFNo6pDBh2AizX-vDA6e-Ow/s400/Triceratops+prorsus+dentary+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+South+Carolina+at+the+College+of+Charleston+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we have a dental battery of the famous <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Triceratops" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Triceratops</span></a></i>, on display at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center (RMDRC) in Woodland Park, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>. Now take a look at the picture below. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm8lB5K9hyUzundbAv9_VTl8roJgTOGhyphenhyphencpk67FjygdxhokYZFznr1sL06nnMNZMqiDMmmGBfHArOHfXJvbifvfFCZGxJySjSt7sm06S5CMCu1FTPbtFCEvxNyD8APysRF9B0sCW0IQ/s1600/Triceratops+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm8lB5K9hyUzundbAv9_VTl8roJgTOGhyphenhyphencpk67FjygdxhokYZFznr1sL06nnMNZMqiDMmmGBfHArOHfXJvbifvfFCZGxJySjSt7sm06S5CMCu1FTPbtFCEvxNyD8APysRF9B0sCW0IQ/s400/Triceratops+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, we have an individual tooth of <i>Triceratops</i>, out of the dental battery that you can see in the picture above. This specimen is from the Hell Creek Formation of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Dakota" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Dakota</span></a>, and also on display at the RMDRC.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvprrG-veLlZaDVNzmoqDt4-6b9NKaUoJrU-46z9l3dWdqTDwcAWhy5XaGq0tpa0Pespw_0ymFRgeBQnpuIkY6htgHylbwljG_l1hSejpDvzURrp_zzy8NrQJ_OCZlrHHg8gIPAfrPQg/s1600/Megalodon+jaw+reconstruction+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Zack+Neher+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvprrG-veLlZaDVNzmoqDt4-6b9NKaUoJrU-46z9l3dWdqTDwcAWhy5XaGq0tpa0Pespw_0ymFRgeBQnpuIkY6htgHylbwljG_l1hSejpDvzURrp_zzy8NrQJ_OCZlrHHg8gIPAfrPQg/s400/Megalodon+jaw+reconstruction+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Zack+Neher+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reconstructed jaws of the enormous, sixty foot long <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Shark" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">shark</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Megalodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Megalodon</span></a></i>, on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MBMNH" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Mace Brown Museum of Natural History</span></a> at the College of Charleston in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Carolina" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Carolina</span></a>. Like other sharks, as well as dinosaurs, you can see the several rows of teeth in the jaws of this guy, as well as the enormous biceps on the arms of the sexy Chris Pratt look-alike on the right. Biceps for scale are approximately 36 inches in diameter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hCEnkKLfM8a7__12BONoFa5Dsi-F-T2UcMg2cx6z8u8gosv_i1v5coGeskqlFlMKyqHALgGJrT30hRzyFfijVmPwiLwBu7uMVw_3DcTZrT4ls31u4OCk0Vf_2EoKU6jzolXmAlERZw/s1600/Torvosaurus+Jaw+at+the+University+of+Colorado+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+Boulder+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hCEnkKLfM8a7__12BONoFa5Dsi-F-T2UcMg2cx6z8u8gosv_i1v5coGeskqlFlMKyqHALgGJrT30hRzyFfijVmPwiLwBu7uMVw_3DcTZrT4ls31u4OCk0Vf_2EoKU6jzolXmAlERZw/s400/Torvosaurus+Jaw+at+the+University+of+Colorado+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+Boulder+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here and below, we have pictures of part of the dentary of the large carnivorous theropod dinosaur <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Torvosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Torvosaurus</span></a></i> from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Jurassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Jurassic</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Morrison%20Formation" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Formation</span></a>. You can see on the end in the picture above, the tooth is growing in, while the rest of the teeth are pretty well established. This fossil is on display at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Boulder" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Boulder</span></a>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEWrXo5QvORpQcD9octi3BmAqe7NU_3259kMOR0-ExSHLF5Vtx5hO_Neduovo7fOqMaBd0UZeZZICRqJpK3tl-e8EiPqFj_ty1-5pJ50rztss30I9dTrpMwHZ1nLNoNv5xINVSrmcdw/s1600/Torvosaurus+Jaw+at+the+University+of+Colorado+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+Boulder+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEWrXo5QvORpQcD9octi3BmAqe7NU_3259kMOR0-ExSHLF5Vtx5hO_Neduovo7fOqMaBd0UZeZZICRqJpK3tl-e8EiPqFj_ty1-5pJ50rztss30I9dTrpMwHZ1nLNoNv5xINVSrmcdw/s400/Torvosaurus+Jaw+at+the+University+of+Colorado+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+Boulder+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot of that <i>Torvosaurus</i> dentary seen above, you can see another tooth growing in as well, second from the left.</td></tr>
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Shed teeth can be quite important for paleontologists when it comes to determining behavior of these extinct creatures. When paleontologists discover shed teeth of an animal, it can be a good indicator that the dinosaur was feeding on something nearby. Unfortunately, shed teeth are easily recognized as fossils by most laymen, and are therefore often picked up by the public or fossil collectors looking to make a quick buck, thereby destroying any information we could potentially gain from such knowledge. With good samples of shed teeth, like those employed by paleontologist <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20T.%20Bakker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dr. Robert Bakker</span></a> at the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation site of Como Bluff in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Wyoming" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Wyoming</span></a>, scientists can learn about dinosaur diets, habits, habitats, and behavior, such as group movement, pack hunting, and even whether dinosaurs cared for their young!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW2tt1eP2uEcl8efHToJbwk5t98i1UH2099PLTfZfjv6xHU-0szuc-AXamgGd9Gk571lZQXJZdEoF4Qwb1hF93Dw2I7mQoN2wb_M-48pIM4zI1KFWBzGQ4vo-3cqZsyHLfDc7mYSjLg/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW2tt1eP2uEcl8efHToJbwk5t98i1UH2099PLTfZfjv6xHU-0szuc-AXamgGd9Gk571lZQXJZdEoF4Qwb1hF93Dw2I7mQoN2wb_M-48pIM4zI1KFWBzGQ4vo-3cqZsyHLfDc7mYSjLg/s400/Tyrannosaurus+rex+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shed tooth crown of a <i>Tyrannosaurus</i> on display at the RMDRC.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11dXtKvZWciQTDqTcfhLokxIeFow1M0rNZ93mgNJ01UvHhC_fEcZKTJNhLg-O2pvf_B8MmQvkr59PM7dfIgE8K4In4zMILtM-LB-YtS4TY7N03Rj5Xmuxp1aoe2PIobBEWjYGlj7h_w/s1600/Shed+Phytosaur+teeth+from+the+Late+Triassic+Period+of+New+Mexico+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11dXtKvZWciQTDqTcfhLokxIeFow1M0rNZ93mgNJ01UvHhC_fEcZKTJNhLg-O2pvf_B8MmQvkr59PM7dfIgE8K4In4zMILtM-LB-YtS4TY7N03Rj5Xmuxp1aoe2PIobBEWjYGlj7h_w/s400/Shed+Phytosaur+teeth+from+the+Late+Triassic+Period+of+New+Mexico+on+display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several shed <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Phytosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">phytosaur</span></a> teeth on display at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/DMNS" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Denver Museum of Nature and Science</span></a>. Phytosaurs were distant cousins of dinosaurs, and looked a lot like <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crocodilian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crocodilians</span></a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcjPkHOZW5hIy4JW_eneuLulnJ4k-V-fjsjANIDp3kyYMvHToN_MocNsH5ECFWYAAgYExy392pzWsQsFF1FQP7x7YDOHlt_hVK8aBAfZqUQEk6v-FYsUlvmJhGsbDSjps-xSoVqvWOw/s1600/Nanotyrannus+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcjPkHOZW5hIy4JW_eneuLulnJ4k-V-fjsjANIDp3kyYMvHToN_MocNsH5ECFWYAAgYExy392pzWsQsFF1FQP7x7YDOHlt_hVK8aBAfZqUQEk6v-FYsUlvmJhGsbDSjps-xSoVqvWOw/s400/Nanotyrannus+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shed tooth of <i>Nanotyrannus</i>, a small cousin of <i>Tyrannosaurus rex</i>, from South Dakota.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu6zjrN6waHzZd4dtmmAtBdLDliChx7FGqR5mmsjzZQERTS5OSYL2sU99tZ8mTe5fJcFFhJzNigSQzcbXgDTfJRdDu7ncRUclsasG7QplqfL_27ePSKAMuEfgoZlPJOJzREnGZA6tZA/s1600/Leidyosuchus+canadensis+crocodilian+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu6zjrN6waHzZd4dtmmAtBdLDliChx7FGqR5mmsjzZQERTS5OSYL2sU99tZ8mTe5fJcFFhJzNigSQzcbXgDTfJRdDu7ncRUclsasG7QplqfL_27ePSKAMuEfgoZlPJOJzREnGZA6tZA/s400/Leidyosuchus+canadensis+crocodilian+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Late+Cretaceous+Hell+Creek+Formation+of+South+Dakota+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leidyosuchus</i>, a type of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cretaceous</span></a> crocodilian, with several shed teeth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAAI2vvicmSYtPF7OzGt8zJ-mtjRCP4OCJsf-5Q8cUtvi_mgn6FJ4OBmKpzsFZWk5gmVYepPg_BVUhjPlJOHSziiHa5dmw8X0ymCSAt85s-4sshms2dZlM7w2JSKACEg9cyj6NvmKMQ/s1600/Brachychampsa+montana+extinct+crocodilian+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Judith+River+Formation+of+Montana+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAAI2vvicmSYtPF7OzGt8zJ-mtjRCP4OCJsf-5Q8cUtvi_mgn6FJ4OBmKpzsFZWk5gmVYepPg_BVUhjPlJOHSziiHa5dmw8X0ymCSAt85s-4sshms2dZlM7w2JSKACEg9cyj6NvmKMQ/s400/Brachychampsa+montana+extinct+crocodilian+shed+tooth+crown+from+the+Judith+River+Formation+of+Montana+on+display+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+with+Masaki+Kleinkopf+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Brachychampsa</i>, another Cretaceous crocodilian.</td></tr>
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In 1877, local geologist <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Arthur%20Lakes" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Arthur Lakes</span></a> discovered the very first bones of the dinosaurs <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stegosaurus</span></a> armatus</i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Apatosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Apatosaurus</span></a> ajax</i> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Morrison" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison</span></a>, Colorado, and if you check out the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>, you can actually see them there today! Surrounding the genoholotype of <i>Apatosaurus ajax</i>, the very first specimen called YPM 1860, was reported by Lakes to have seven shed teeth belonging to an allosaur surrounding the specimen. This indicates some that the predatory allosaurs were actually feeding on the <i>Apatosaurus</i>, which is very interesting information for paleontologists to have! Below are two pictures of part of that YPM 1860 specimen, with the Director and Chief Curator of the Morrison Natural History Museum <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Matt%20Mossbrucker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Matthew Mossbrucker</span></a> pointing to the shed allosaur tooth crown. These pictures are from the collections of the Yale Peabody Museum in Connecticut.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsG699HmdNRLv0wMG1LlqZvmrrX8P896zjmSvGKhzcW6PKcTlPl65Sn0Gmyl5IP6XbAd0JhsEbikU5BAdmafPVFnoKATMyTpId6Rmp_4C97cbrWNDnfFqKEsV9RNy9W-ERZQD5Hhkyg/s1600/Genoholotype+of+Apatosaurus+ajax+from+Morrison+Colorado+in+collections+of+Yale+Peabody+Museum+YPM+1860+with+shed+Allosaur+tooth+crown+discovered+in+1877+by+Arthur+Lakes+Photo+Credit+Matthew+Mossbrucker+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsG699HmdNRLv0wMG1LlqZvmrrX8P896zjmSvGKhzcW6PKcTlPl65Sn0Gmyl5IP6XbAd0JhsEbikU5BAdmafPVFnoKATMyTpId6Rmp_4C97cbrWNDnfFqKEsV9RNy9W-ERZQD5Hhkyg/s400/Genoholotype+of+Apatosaurus+ajax+from+Morrison+Colorado+in+collections+of+Yale+Peabody+Museum+YPM+1860+with+shed+Allosaur+tooth+crown+discovered+in+1877+by+Arthur+Lakes+Photo+Credit+Matthew+Mossbrucker+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shed allosaur tooth crown in the matrix of YPM 1860. Photo Credit: Matthew Mossbrucker </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkA712udBJDN92OZwjBcicu0g53YilNGgH3m7sj0JtgUyZ0cF9p2OV-gUZ3k5zPtPPfP9tmb-KNtKmIKNaCT4XtU96mxTNAql4rndIwGeK6kYejvWEWkmk2ERQk114V9jzR9caiJ-Jw/s1600/Genoholotype+of+Apatosaurus+ajax+from+Morrison+Colorado+in+collections+of+Yale+Peabody+Museum+YPM+1860+with+shed+Allosaur+tooth+crown+discovered+in+1877+by+Arthur+Lakes+Photo+Credit+Matthew+Mossbrucker+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkA712udBJDN92OZwjBcicu0g53YilNGgH3m7sj0JtgUyZ0cF9p2OV-gUZ3k5zPtPPfP9tmb-KNtKmIKNaCT4XtU96mxTNAql4rndIwGeK6kYejvWEWkmk2ERQk114V9jzR9caiJ-Jw/s400/Genoholotype+of+Apatosaurus+ajax+from+Morrison+Colorado+in+collections+of+Yale+Peabody+Museum+YPM+1860+with+shed+Allosaur+tooth+crown+discovered+in+1877+by+Arthur+Lakes+Photo+Credit+Matthew+Mossbrucker+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Shed allosaur tooth crown in the matrix of YPM 1860. Photo Credit: Matthew Mossbrucker</td></tr>
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<div>
Non mammals rarely have more than one type of tooth in their mouth, and when they do, it can often be the cause of celebration. For example, in our previous post about the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Greek%2FLatin%20Roots" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Latin and Greek</span></a> root of two, we discussed two animals called <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dimetrodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dimetrodon</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dimorphodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dimorphodon</span></a></i>. <i>Dimetrodon</i> is an early ancestor of modern mammals, and its name means "two measures of teeth," as it has two different types of teeth in its mouth. <i>Dimorphodon</i> is a type of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pterosaur</span></a> (sometimes referred to as pterodactyls), a distant cousin of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pteranodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pteranodon</span></a></i>, whose name means "two morphs of teeth," again in reference to the fact that two types of teeth are in the animals mouth. The animal below is a dinosaur called <i><a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Heterodontosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Heterodontosaurus</span></a></i>, who belongs to the eponymously named family of dinosaurs, the Heterodontosauridae. As you can see in the picture below, <i>Heterodontosaurus</i> has several larger teeth in the front of their mouth, and smaller teeth in the back.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AMRKzPjdsgQ-swnIhRj-LlORSM1IgefAn42AlynbyvObtI8wPOciXG_C-Q2JZRXBrNPrJEITi-Q46inaOVhoWZoIgy-8z_7kcnWo2SeXJFPiAwSxxyEpX5CURUUC4yFl_4R8YwfDhw/s1600/Heterodontosaurus+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AMRKzPjdsgQ-swnIhRj-LlORSM1IgefAn42AlynbyvObtI8wPOciXG_C-Q2JZRXBrNPrJEITi-Q46inaOVhoWZoIgy-8z_7kcnWo2SeXJFPiAwSxxyEpX5CURUUC4yFl_4R8YwfDhw/s400/Heterodontosaurus+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heterodontosaurus</i>, a small little <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Early%20Jurassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Early Jurassic</span></a> dinosaur from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Africa</span></a>. As you can see, there are two different types of teeth in their mouth, larger ones in the front and smaller ones in the back.</td></tr>
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<div>
One of the things that make mammals special is our teeth. One of the most classic features of us mammals is our varied teeth. In us humans, we have our <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Incisor" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">incisors</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Canine%20%28Tooth%29" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">canines</span></a> in front, and our chewing <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Molar" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">molars</span></a> in the back. Since most mammals were only about the size of a shrew back during the Mesozoic Era, the time of the dinosaurs, in many places such as Como Bluff in Wyoming, paleontologists rely almost exclusively on the teeth of the tiny little mammals, since the teeth are much harder and more durable than the rest of the skeleton. Below, we have a trio of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Proboscidea" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">elephantid</span></a> molars on display at the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Look at how varied the teeth are! The first two belong to animals whose teeth were better adapted for crushing and grinding tougher vegetation, while the last molar would have been better for mashing up grasses.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnCkMhJU7HWJ1Ww5YxZ8Jf6BRPXWTbiXj6YM0PUdTTub_Wm8Zs75RLUAXr8hFY9xagJc83A6MIbXC3bqHEIzkl7twM-IADMWsOQSqaakk062exa9TV48PORA2TR8NetTISN3NL2XwUw/s1600/Cuvieronius+tropicus+gomphothere+elephantid+molar+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+at+the+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnCkMhJU7HWJ1Ww5YxZ8Jf6BRPXWTbiXj6YM0PUdTTub_Wm8Zs75RLUAXr8hFY9xagJc83A6MIbXC3bqHEIzkl7twM-IADMWsOQSqaakk062exa9TV48PORA2TR8NetTISN3NL2XwUw/s400/Cuvieronius+tropicus+gomphothere+elephantid+molar+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+at+the+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cuvieronius tropicu</i>s, a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pliocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pliocene</span></a>-aged elephantid from South Carolina. Large, high-cusped molars for crushing and grinding tougher vegetation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKejm6gZwcJbyrYZt84eU31OTdFi4-QRSx4v62IHA7FpTJBhLOmjZBQO0p3v1XWPCYsdMzYtIGCefzLesT7UelbtEU4Ayz7LY5RttDlnLWf3ov4kOSAFmGLdPoFpgwbKj5sOKOKJMKZw/s1600/Stegomastodon+mirificus+gomphothere+elephantid+molar+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+at+the+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKejm6gZwcJbyrYZt84eU31OTdFi4-QRSx4v62IHA7FpTJBhLOmjZBQO0p3v1XWPCYsdMzYtIGCefzLesT7UelbtEU4Ayz7LY5RttDlnLWf3ov4kOSAFmGLdPoFpgwbKj5sOKOKJMKZw/s400/Stegomastodon+mirificus+gomphothere+elephantid+molar+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+at+the+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stegomastodon mirificus</i>, a Pliocene and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pleistocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pleistocene</span></a>-aged elephantid, discovered in the Ashepoo River of South Carolina. Like <i>Cuvieronius</i>, <i>Stegomastodon</i> also has those large, high-cusped molars that are great for demolishing tough plant matter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKC7CB84odBB_LkW7ZPckDXKMCw7OWbfH3JYoAxeNrp3xwPp1B3_znqspes8RKUCcLRAf99xsiTKh4HIeJ8WALaq6KDe6RR6W85cuXhooHL1o_FAKIR8NJBH-_JZ8TL8qYJejAnSGBA/s1600/Imperial+Mammoth+Mammuthus+imperator+molar+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Natural+History+Museum+at+the+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKC7CB84odBB_LkW7ZPckDXKMCw7OWbfH3JYoAxeNrp3xwPp1B3_znqspes8RKUCcLRAf99xsiTKh4HIeJ8WALaq6KDe6RR6W85cuXhooHL1o_FAKIR8NJBH-_JZ8TL8qYJejAnSGBA/s400/Imperial+Mammoth+Mammuthus+imperator+molar+on+display+at+the+Mace+Brown+Natural+History+Museum+at+the+College+of+Charleston+in+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher+.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Imperial <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammoth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammoth</span></a> (<i>Mammuthus imperator</i>) from the Pleistocene of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Florida" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Florida</span></a>. These guys have a similar design of tooth to the dental battery of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ceratopsian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ceratopsian</span></a> dinosaurs mentioned above. The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Duck" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">duck</span></a>-billed dinosaurs, or <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hadrosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hadrosaurs</span></a>, also had a similar design. These teeth are broad and flat and good for mashing up grasses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shed teeth can be pretty important when paleontologists study fossils and extinct animals. They are good at establishing behavior, and can be pretty important for long-term studies of paleoenvironments. So when Owen uses the shed Indominus tooth in Jurassic World, believe it or not, that's actually something that paleontologists do from time to time!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-84017503727998158872015-06-13T15:49:00.000-06:002015-06-14T13:30:52.571-06:00Jurassic World Premiere at the Alamo DrafthouseCurrently, the crews of the <a href="http://mnhm.org/246/Morrison-Natural-History-Museum" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a> and the <a href="http://www.bestwesterndenver.com/our-dinosaurs/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Best Western Denver Southwest</span></a> are manning a large booth in the lobby of the <a href="http://drafthouse.com/denver/littleton" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Alamo Drafthouse of Littleton</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, taking part of the hype that has accompanied the release of the new Jurassic World movie. People have been clawing to get in and see the movie, and are pretty excited to see some awesome fossils and fossil casts right there in the lobby!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJpJIdUc0z7-z3sW83Z2dmWlM6rf4IKL_9lWwKLUFpXiuKTCcuE6pbxnPE_YVkqI1x9Y6vuPuS-RuyJ2G0r_cJqJPEDijYKugoSqSezKVqF870CNx6Mo85RmaCJdDGmkYXFTm5zNcew/s1600/Acrocanthosaurus+arm+in+front+of+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJpJIdUc0z7-z3sW83Z2dmWlM6rf4IKL_9lWwKLUFpXiuKTCcuE6pbxnPE_YVkqI1x9Y6vuPuS-RuyJ2G0r_cJqJPEDijYKugoSqSezKVqF870CNx6Mo85RmaCJdDGmkYXFTm5zNcew/s400/Acrocanthosaurus+arm+in+front+of+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Acrocanthosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Acrocanthosaurus</span></a></i> arm clawing its way towards the Alamo Drafthouse building.</td></tr>
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We brought over several of the awesome casts that are (usually) on display in the lobby of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/BWDS" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Best Western Denver Southwest Dino Hotel</span></a>, including a <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Uintatherium" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Uintatherium</span></a></i> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Skull" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">skull</span></a>, one of the <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Brachiosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Brachiosaurus</span></a></i> femora, a <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Camarasaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Camarasaurus</span></a></i> skull, and the prize of the exhibition, the <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Acrocanthosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Acrocanthosaurus</span></a></i> skull and arm! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB0iwCNHUOYzko_kFc_QWlDQRDSwCeUbaJgTdUXz4izeA-wJBGkZU24BwSXBHYPid_2eq7FUi5VkM3oCLxx2D-oKjO009iKt0JGP9AbO6cYF8nyv2blmfAabb4UO-ch865GCuSrYF5Q/s1600/Acrocanthosaurus+skull+Fran+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB0iwCNHUOYzko_kFc_QWlDQRDSwCeUbaJgTdUXz4izeA-wJBGkZU24BwSXBHYPid_2eq7FUi5VkM3oCLxx2D-oKjO009iKt0JGP9AbO6cYF8nyv2blmfAabb4UO-ch865GCuSrYF5Q/s400/Acrocanthosaurus+skull+Fran+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fran, the most complete skull of <i>Acrocanthosaurus</i> ever discovered. A giant cousin of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Allosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Allosaurus</span></a></i>, this skull was discovered in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Oklahoma" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Oklahoma</span></a>, and would have lived during the <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Early%20Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Early Cretaceous Period</span></a>, around 110 million years ago. The dinosaur was first described in 1950 by <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologists</span></a> J. Willis Stovall and Wann Langston Jr.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkdZagM0R2fG6utylAxld3Qh5YxrOMsZVZFRwk2jcoDYPao1qi6VDDf7K948XjzSN0L9uVP1a66b04cFv15ZenUbda85exk3sG65boygunKi23Z-rWW9hiuZQrR6FySsFmfHoNyFMDA/s1600/Camarasaurus+skull+E.T.+from+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+for+the+Jurassic+World+premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkdZagM0R2fG6utylAxld3Qh5YxrOMsZVZFRwk2jcoDYPao1qi6VDDf7K948XjzSN0L9uVP1a66b04cFv15ZenUbda85exk3sG65boygunKi23Z-rWW9hiuZQrR6FySsFmfHoNyFMDA/s400/Camarasaurus+skull+E.T.+from+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+for+the+Jurassic+World+premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skull of the long-necked <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sauropod" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sauropod</span></a> dinosaur <i>Camarasaurus</i>, statistically the most common <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a> discovered in the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Jurassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Jurassic</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Morrison%20Formation" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Formation</span></a>. This <i>Camarasaurus</i> specimen, nicknamed "E.T.," was discovered at the Howe Stephens Quarry in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Wyoming" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Wyoming</span></a>. Check out his page on the <a href="http://www.bhigr.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Black Hills Institute Website</span></a> by clicking <a href="http://www.bhigr.com/store/product.php?productid=305" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iozgWK79xXE3fcx9ZjGPwE9GDLx-jECJHyXIl3rOeR6IWgyWdyVu0XMEJbnFJRocX8-6coe0tH0YjArXsLX2etq6pcpFaGCb3jwmpk-shSTUEAUQ7kvGeZgpmC-JccTA6hl_oPZLTw/s1600/Acrocanthosaurus+skull+Fran+with+Nose+Being+Picked+by+arm+of+Tyrannosaurus+rex+at+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iozgWK79xXE3fcx9ZjGPwE9GDLx-jECJHyXIl3rOeR6IWgyWdyVu0XMEJbnFJRocX8-6coe0tH0YjArXsLX2etq6pcpFaGCb3jwmpk-shSTUEAUQ7kvGeZgpmC-JccTA6hl_oPZLTw/s400/Acrocanthosaurus+skull+Fran+with+Nose+Being+Picked+by+arm+of+Tyrannosaurus+rex+at+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus rex</span></a></i> arm picks the nose of the <i>Acrocanthosaurus</i>. Now that's something you don't see every day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Matt%20Mossbrucker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Matt Mossbrucker</span></a>, the entire Tally family clan, Justin Sewell from <a href="http://www.theonering.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">TheOneRing.net</span></a>, and myself have been here since Thursday, talking with folks before and after their movie experience. Part of what makes the Alamo Drafthouse experience particularly interesting is they do a half hour preshow, where they pull awesome old footage and fun videos that relate to the feature presentation, so you get to enjoy a half hour of awesome old <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a> footage as well! So definitely come on by and say hello, and enjoy the movie while you're here!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsppxbn15r9AJb7qbKKtXjEvgpBwr2zb8_Zu8BWht-FDQEKQDgMHPHu5b4SX00WyUAXFoLwITCZ8nkvQOMeH9bPmhtzv-VmzXr5H2fbgqu3N5Q5gxGuk1_C-i8SQlAaCUQlc7MuCyfUw/s1600/Greg+Caroline+and+Joe+Tally+with+an+Acrocanthosaurus+skull+and+arm+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsppxbn15r9AJb7qbKKtXjEvgpBwr2zb8_Zu8BWht-FDQEKQDgMHPHu5b4SX00WyUAXFoLwITCZ8nkvQOMeH9bPmhtzv-VmzXr5H2fbgqu3N5Q5gxGuk1_C-i8SQlAaCUQlc7MuCyfUw/s400/Greg+Caroline+and+Joe+Tally+with+an+Acrocanthosaurus+skull+and+arm+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Joe%20Tally" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Joe Tally</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Greg%20Tally" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Greg Tally</span></a>, and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Caroline%20Tally" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Caroline Tally</span></a> doing very important science.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNVAg-rG3RUXooNNOHBz7EFm2at9bBxNnIz6gND4U8qsw5yYMLw7GUvS7zAnBSKDK0H_h2XaHV-DgX8CNNuTaSGhsVAksHUWDNQGRe_rgtAecd4r0eDoty7om8hpa38aBKsmoEC7-xA/s1600/Matthew+Mossbrucker+Director+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Brachiosaurus+femur+Acrocanthosaurus+arm+Camarasaurus+skull+from+the+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNVAg-rG3RUXooNNOHBz7EFm2at9bBxNnIz6gND4U8qsw5yYMLw7GUvS7zAnBSKDK0H_h2XaHV-DgX8CNNuTaSGhsVAksHUWDNQGRe_rgtAecd4r0eDoty7om8hpa38aBKsmoEC7-xA/s400/Matthew+Mossbrucker+Director+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+the+Jurassic+World+Premiere+Brachiosaurus+femur+Acrocanthosaurus+arm+Camarasaurus+skull+from+the+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew Mossbrucker, Director and Chief Curator of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>, poses next to the gigantic femur of the <i>Brachiosaurus</i>, with the <i>Acrocanthosaurus</i> skull slung over one shoulder and the <i>Camarasaurus</i> skull in the other. Imagine how cool you would look carrying that <i>Brachiosaurus</i> femur around in a hotel parking lot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeinPrfNIkpCIUlWB5RgE3KlKu5jdH_tlZ8bLhgMCnvBZcA2NBabk3WvwIQqC7sY6WYc__lF29Smy-IC2bYTYDSm68mDVNhqzemE2yY54siVbNR2egFWS1m2tXoracSUSw-G8A3_bZA/s1600/Merlin+Barnes+from+Dinosaur+Ridge+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+Jurassic+World+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeinPrfNIkpCIUlWB5RgE3KlKu5jdH_tlZ8bLhgMCnvBZcA2NBabk3WvwIQqC7sY6WYc__lF29Smy-IC2bYTYDSm68mDVNhqzemE2yY54siVbNR2egFWS1m2tXoracSUSw-G8A3_bZA/s400/Merlin+Barnes+from+Dinosaur+Ridge+at+the+Alamo+Drafthouse+in+Littleton+Colorado+for+Jurassic+World+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merlin Barnes, Outreach Specialist at <a href="http://www.dinoridge.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dinosaur Ridge</span></a>, our neighbors both at the Drafthouse and in real life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I got to watch Jurassic World this afternoon, and I was very pleased with the movie, I thought it was very entertaining and a great movie overall! For the next few days, I'm going to spend as much time as I can talking about different aspects of the movie, both accurate and inaccurate aspects of it, for all of your reading and viewing pleasure! Some topics I plan to talk about include:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pterygoid <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Teeth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">teeth</span></a></li>
<li>Shed teeth</li>
<li>Feathers</li>
<li>Faculative bipedalism</li>
<li>Herding and group behavior</li>
<li>Defensive tails</li>
<li>Head butting</li>
<li>Dinosaur hands and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rabbit" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rabbit</span></a> paws</li>
<li>Venomous and poisonous dinosaurs</li>
<li>Threat displays</li>
<li>Paleo art</li>
<li>Opposable thumbs</li>
<li><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pterosaur</span></a> diets</li>
<li>Dinos in the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snow" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snow</span></a></li>
<li>Maybe even a little cuttlefish talk too</li>
</ul>
<div>
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<div>
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I had a lot of fun watching the movie, and I'm still having fun talking with the crowds of people entering and exiting the theater, hyped up and excited to learn more about dinosaurs and their prehistoric contemporaries! I'm also looking forward to using the movie as an opportunity to engage people about dinosaurs, and hopefully you who are still reading this post will, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSpN9_dMpb2xeZr-_YAeTL3P6JB-aCVmGVinAMEExEEBvHB3IVBFbd8FmsPn4UuUjWNQ6T51Z3WmwnfvgViSWBzKcF00AfigX41asEU8SYgnwWA8d-45IkAaacESiVJrxDTs5_HrFwA/s1600/Cools+Guys+Don%2527t+Look+at+Explosions+Matt+Mossbrucker+director+of+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+and+Greg+Tally+co-owner+of+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+with+a+Brachiosaurus+femur+in+front+of+Best+Western+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Chenoa+Ellinghaus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSpN9_dMpb2xeZr-_YAeTL3P6JB-aCVmGVinAMEExEEBvHB3IVBFbd8FmsPn4UuUjWNQ6T51Z3WmwnfvgViSWBzKcF00AfigX41asEU8SYgnwWA8d-45IkAaacESiVJrxDTs5_HrFwA/s400/Cools+Guys+Don%2527t+Look+at+Explosions+Matt+Mossbrucker+director+of+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+and+Greg+Tally+co-owner+of+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+with+a+Brachiosaurus+femur+in+front+of+Best+Western+Dino+Hotel+Photo+Credit+Chenoa+Ellinghaus.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Matthew Mossbrucker (left) and Greg Tally, co-owner of the Best Western Denver Southwest Dino Hotel, walk the Brachiosaurus femur out of the lobby of the hotel, on its way to the Alamo Drafthouse. We thought it could use a nice explosion in the background, so....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn-FcXQfXwu6-JZO26Ph1FUz5tZ38lOlfUBLUUM0h316_zNk-KDqc4sCX0mcVxZDki9Pdo0ys6_Q_Kffldzq9Wx3CwzFbG5kwjnlQ6MA9IDjEFccDF07Hd8-N-5DHtJyIobxGCNHfPw/s1600/Cools+Guys+Don%2527t+Look+at+Explosions+Matt+Mossbrucker+director+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+and+Greg+Tally+co-owner+of+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+with+a+Brachiosaurus+femur+Edited+by+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn-FcXQfXwu6-JZO26Ph1FUz5tZ38lOlfUBLUUM0h316_zNk-KDqc4sCX0mcVxZDki9Pdo0ys6_Q_Kffldzq9Wx3CwzFbG5kwjnlQ6MA9IDjEFccDF07Hd8-N-5DHtJyIobxGCNHfPw/s400/Cools+Guys+Don%2527t+Look+at+Explosions+Matt+Mossbrucker+director+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+and+Greg+Tally+co-owner+of+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+Dino+Hotel+with+a+Brachiosaurus+femur+Edited+by+Zack+Neher.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....this was born.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-4432984922268032015-06-10T13:26:00.000-06:002015-06-14T14:04:44.439-06:00The Mace Brown Museum of Natural HistoryOn our trip last summer to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Carolina" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Carolina</span></a> visiting our friends the Beckleys, we got to visit the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College of Charleston which, as small museums go, I was definitely impressed with. They had quite the collection laid out in a very pleasing fashion, the lighting was great, and I definitely recommend stopping by for a visit. They had a very nice assortment of fossils that were either local critters, or animals that had been found nearby and likely would have also been found in the area. I started making this post way back then, and I never got a chance to finish it, so I just wanted to share a few pictures of some of the interesting animals that they had on display.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfb-h3MgH1Bym6yrnJHM1rk9rqHHHbvgHRUBAYSL_7B5bJEThB6VoSlZnrNqlODbGmaTOtoaqyuytbwbeFSwRFc49YDClqs6i7-krUP7uTHB7SjiofC0WhR0jen5_GcXNgNSYUzOytQ/s1600/Glossotherium+chapadmalense+Giant+Ground+Sloth+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfb-h3MgH1Bym6yrnJHM1rk9rqHHHbvgHRUBAYSL_7B5bJEThB6VoSlZnrNqlODbGmaTOtoaqyuytbwbeFSwRFc49YDClqs6i7-krUP7uTHB7SjiofC0WhR0jen5_GcXNgNSYUzOytQ/s1600/Glossotherium+chapadmalense+Giant+Ground+Sloth+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
For me, last summer was the "Summer of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giant%20Ground%20Sloth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Giant Ground Sloths</span></a>." Up until that time, I had only seen a few ground sloth skeletons on display, including the skeleton at <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/TLD" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">The Living Desert</span></a> in Palm Desert, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/California" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">California </span></a>and a mounted skeleton of a Harlan's ground sloth (<i>Paramylodon harlani</i>) behind the scenes at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/DMNS" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Denver Museum of Nature and Science</span></a>. But last summer, I got to see mounted specimens at the Mace Brown Museum, the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, and the American Museum of Natural History. The sloth skeleton above is the mid-sized ground sloth <i>Glossotherium</i>, from approximately 1.8 MYA during the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pleistocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pleistocene Epoch</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Florida" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Florida</span></a>. The arm below is from the enormous <i>Eremotherium</i>, one of the earliest <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South American</span></a> animals that migrated into <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North America</span></a> during the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Great%20American%20Interchange" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Great American Interchange</span></a>, approximately 2.2 MYA. This specimen is thought to be approximately 1.6 MY old, from Florida. That little sign placard next to the arm was probably about 2x3 inches. These <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sloth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sloths </span></a>were simply enormous.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtjpUkjDDpMvxEcEAUSxGtLqQtIoUroMFhAycqsAEIFvrNIJLZCphAVkBLdqtSK8njoTMyzCQq476aAt0KS1n_NWXE8hrVRt6n8Qi0IDOBA7uwX_81fTGLu_vUMz5WR4wYQXoBenUKA/s1600/Eremotherium+eomigrans+Fossil+Giant+Ground+Sloth+Arm+from+the+Pleistocene+Epoch+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtjpUkjDDpMvxEcEAUSxGtLqQtIoUroMFhAycqsAEIFvrNIJLZCphAVkBLdqtSK8njoTMyzCQq476aAt0KS1n_NWXE8hrVRt6n8Qi0IDOBA7uwX_81fTGLu_vUMz5WR4wYQXoBenUKA/s1600/Eremotherium+eomigrans+Fossil+Giant+Ground+Sloth+Arm+from+the+Pleistocene+Epoch+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I also got my first good look at a bizarre group of bizarre, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dermal%20Armor" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dermal-armored</span></a> animals known as pampatheres. Below, we have the giant <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Armadillo" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">armadillo</span></a>-like pampathere <i>Holmesina septentrionalis</i> from the Pleistocene Epoch, between around 2 - 1.5 MYA, also from Florida. According to the signs, <i>Holmesina </i>is one of the largest pampatheres, and was given its current name by the famous <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologist </span></a><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/George%20G.%20Simpson" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">George Gaylord Simpson</span></a>, which can be read by clicking <a href="http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/handle/2246/3059//v2/dspace/ingest/pdfSource/nov/N0442.pdf?sequence=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>. Originally, <i>Holmesina </i>was described as a species of <i>Glyptodon </i>by Joseph Leidy, who later thought that the animal was actually a type of giant armadillo, but Simpson was able to set the record straight in 1930. This animal is in the same order as the armadillos and the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Glyptodont" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">glyptodonts</span></a>, and like the other two groups, is completely covered in dermal armor. The second picture shows a close up of that dermal armor on the front legs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CbsDWINQ-Lf9SSqk2Lz3XPDUJ9O7fBRLlcBdy8uXYqsbxturzXqhm-Guh63ap6Zm74npCu1AwTZ6mPyv4Fsu9thKOpKjDcNTdEow96PdS6SskIuIcMF0xsAD0bTDQVi3R1CdhgIkqQ/s1600/Holmesina+septentrionalis+Pampathere+Xenarthran+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CbsDWINQ-Lf9SSqk2Lz3XPDUJ9O7fBRLlcBdy8uXYqsbxturzXqhm-Guh63ap6Zm74npCu1AwTZ6mPyv4Fsu9thKOpKjDcNTdEow96PdS6SskIuIcMF0xsAD0bTDQVi3R1CdhgIkqQ/s1600/Holmesina+septentrionalis+Pampathere+Xenarthran+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHCBRj_SsPQo1kAwZucd5B1iL7NyxhVcx9VmXc0f9CI7zk2IkDJFk1lSxpuYEkzFyZPewWLxwdu3vKNOj5FJVbJYBLkrDLSC3pwQovyKr9Fbn2ActW2EDeR4c1JFtkKz2SQWEo0AALA/s1600/Holmesina+septentrionalis+Fossil+Leg+Pampathere+Xenarthran+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHCBRj_SsPQo1kAwZucd5B1iL7NyxhVcx9VmXc0f9CI7zk2IkDJFk1lSxpuYEkzFyZPewWLxwdu3vKNOj5FJVbJYBLkrDLSC3pwQovyKr9Fbn2ActW2EDeR4c1JFtkKz2SQWEo0AALA/s1600/Holmesina+septentrionalis+Fossil+Leg+Pampathere+Xenarthran+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This picture displays the skulls of two <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rodent" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rodents</span></a>. The one on the left belongs to <i>Castor canadensis</i>, the North American beaver. The one on the right, however, that is freaking huge, is also from a beaver, just a gigantic extinct beaver. Meet <i>Castoroides ohioensis</i>, a beaver the size of a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Black%20Bear" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">black bear</span></a>! From what I have been able to find, it is unknown whether <i>Castoroides </i>built dams like its modern counterpart. What is known is that it was one gigantic enormous beaver.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioifY4p3ps4vNYlQv36xlas7K-ARJSawxXY4OhmlrgL76xeWFzaZJssn8-OsVbqeQj53fyn3oQZFviJXZ_sujwrcv5FPk33X4Kqj_Qxr4r93OSpOz1MdYSFF02QeBuFPHKVAlOo_MKTg/s1600/Castaroides+ohioensis+Giant+Beaver+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+and+Castor+canadensis+from+the+Holocene+of+Michigan+Skull+Comparison+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioifY4p3ps4vNYlQv36xlas7K-ARJSawxXY4OhmlrgL76xeWFzaZJssn8-OsVbqeQj53fyn3oQZFviJXZ_sujwrcv5FPk33X4Kqj_Qxr4r93OSpOz1MdYSFF02QeBuFPHKVAlOo_MKTg/s1600/Castaroides+ohioensis+Giant+Beaver+from+the+Pleistocene+of+Florida+and+Castor+canadensis+from+the+Holocene+of+Michigan+Skull+Comparison+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also got to see my first fossil <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Penguin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">penguin </span></a>(cast or otherwise) not still surrounded by matrix. This is a cast of the skull of the penguin <i>Palaeospheniscus</i>, a genus of fossil penguin that was abundant during the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Miocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Miocene </span></a>of South America. Their fossils have been discovered in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Peru" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Peru </span></a>and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Argentina" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Argentina</span></a>, both places where penguins of the genus <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Spheniscus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Spheniscus</span></a></i>, such as the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Magellanic%20Penguin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Magellanic </span></a>and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Humboldt%20Penguin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Humboldt penguins</span></a>, are found today.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhwWDJTUCMfFmgxa8ef_jnXmyJUFiIKzwkHe7-XgGVt0xDwDwRQYG47FLKWYM3sWY9I-4-6nFsbe2B8bz0UaStynMLJDQC54Vkz6zUybUT1fciTaXZPX_D-8y6-v7jdu7doBlWgdRjg/s1600/Palaeospheniscus+sp.+Fossil+Penguin+from+the+Pliocene+Epoch+of+Chile+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhwWDJTUCMfFmgxa8ef_jnXmyJUFiIKzwkHe7-XgGVt0xDwDwRQYG47FLKWYM3sWY9I-4-6nFsbe2B8bz0UaStynMLJDQC54Vkz6zUybUT1fciTaXZPX_D-8y6-v7jdu7doBlWgdRjg/s1600/Palaeospheniscus+sp.+Fossil+Penguin+from+the+Pliocene+Epoch+of+Chile+in+the+College+of+Charleston+Mace+Brown+Museum+of+Natural+History+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Works Cited:</div>
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Johnson, K., & Miller, I. (2012). Digging Snowmastodon: Discovering an Ice Age world in the Colorado Rockies. Denver, Colo.: Denver Museum of Nature & Science ;. </div>
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Ksepka, D. (2012, June 28). Penguins in the Food Chain. Retrieved June 10, 2015, from https://fossilpenguins.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/penguins-in-the-food-chain/ </div>
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Ksepka, D. (2013, September 19). IPC Roundup 3: Mountain Penguins. Retrieved June 10, 2015, from https://fossilpenguins.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/ipc-roundup-3-mountain-penguins/ </div>
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Simpson, G. (1930). Holmesina septentrionalis, Extinct Giant Armadillo of Florida. American Museum Novitates, 442. Retrieved June 10, 2015, from http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/handle/2246/3059//v2/dspace/ingest/pdfSource/nov/N0442.pdf?sequence=1 </div>
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(2014, July 5). Mace Brown Natural History Museum Labels. Charleston, South Carolina. </div>
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<a href="https://www.dwellable.com/a/3355/South-Carolina/Charleston/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="https://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/3355.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Charleston on Dwellable</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-74521357956944204382015-02-26T20:24:00.002-07:002015-06-26T23:13:11.237-06:00Alien Vs. Predator Vs. ParasaurolophusA few days ago, I sat down and, with several hours of homework to do, watched Ridley Scott's 1979 classic "Alien." It was phenomenal, and I enjoyed it, and went on to watch Predator (great) and Prometheus (not so great). Now, on this excellent but snowy Thursday afternoon, I'm about an hour into "Aliens," knowing that any second now an Alien xenomorph is going to appear out of nowhere and kill something. But that's not why I paused the movie at the 54:44 minute mark. What I've been thinking about is far more pressing: what's the purpose of that enormously distended xenomorph cranium?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdqj2erTA-KtQSchKBzN0Y_JAtU6iPOVHrFrRsI7k_Srhs9cI8XJRcLz8ZG9-YWxMDjxB1IgVtwX3zV3YSyZIDug0HcMagAlO0I8-A1Vy0AY1_KFIpRHmek2lcO37Ncwj6R1aU5ZGIw/s1600/Parasaurolophus+Dinosaur+Alien+Xenomorph+Connection+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdqj2erTA-KtQSchKBzN0Y_JAtU6iPOVHrFrRsI7k_Srhs9cI8XJRcLz8ZG9-YWxMDjxB1IgVtwX3zV3YSyZIDug0HcMagAlO0I8-A1Vy0AY1_KFIpRHmek2lcO37Ncwj6R1aU5ZGIw/s1600/Parasaurolophus+Dinosaur+Alien+Xenomorph+Connection+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you have no idea what's going on in this picture yet, that means you're probably sane.</td></tr>
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Usually with aliens, you can just pass off a big head as an indicator of big brains. <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ki-Adi-Mundi" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ki-Adi Mundi</span></a> from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Star%20Wars" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Star Wars</span></a>, for example, has two brains in that big 'ol Cerean cranium of his, and an extra heart to boot. If you rewatch "A New Hope" extra carefully, see if you can't spot <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Pons_Limbic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pons Limbic</span></a> (note the brainy pun) in the Mos Eisley Cantina, the big-brained Siniteen whose head literally resembles a brain. The <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Universe" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Guardians of the Universe</span></a> from the D.C. Comics franchise are often pretty wise, but in light of some recent events, they might not be quite as level headed and emotion spectrumless as we thought (but that's a story for another bright snowy day). The <a href="http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Face_of_Boe" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Face of Boe</span></a> from Doctor Who seems to be pretty smart, given that he's literally just a giant head in a tank and can communicate telepathically. Then there's <a href="http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Zilius_Zox_%28New_Earth%29" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Zilius Zox</span></a>, a Red Lantern from the D.C. universe, who also appears to be little more than a giant head. Both <a href="http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Jumba_Jookiba" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jumba</span></a> (from Disney's "Lilo and Stitch") and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial</span></a> (from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) seem to have noggins that are larger than average in proportion to body size, and seem to have above average intelligence to match. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_the_Martian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Marvin the Martian</span></a> and <a href="http://americandad.wikia.com/wiki/Roger" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Roger</span></a> from American Dad? Both smart, both big-headed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHp3xaVpnb-emYCRvGzKOuDnjFo6hig9MgHeGC4NNY-SJPynWRPlRbjYbK_4dpRWIP-aE2EAIdi0wfOByEGo8ZnfcfU1K4O4swx-ox29uhoykpG88HJMgQ38laAMYGQRP4tbXqRomyA/s1600/Parasaurolophus+skull+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+(AMNH)%2Bin%2BNew%2BYork%2BCity%2Bfrom%2Blast%2Bsummer%2Bwhen%2BI%2Bvisited%2Bthe%2Bmuseum%2Bwith%2Bmy%2Bfriend%2BZach%2BEvens%2Bhadrosaur%2Bdinosaur%2Bduckbill%2Bduck%2Bbill%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHp3xaVpnb-emYCRvGzKOuDnjFo6hig9MgHeGC4NNY-SJPynWRPlRbjYbK_4dpRWIP-aE2EAIdi0wfOByEGo8ZnfcfU1K4O4swx-ox29uhoykpG88HJMgQ38laAMYGQRP4tbXqRomyA/s1600/Parasaurolophus+skull+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+(AMNH)%2Bin%2BNew%2BYork%2BCity%2Bfrom%2Blast%2Bsummer%2Bwhen%2BI%2Bvisited%2Bthe%2Bmuseum%2Bwith%2Bmy%2Bfriend%2BZach%2BEvens%2Bhadrosaur%2Bdinosaur%2Bduckbill%2Bduck%2Bbill%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skull of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Duck" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">duck</span></a>-billed <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hadrosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hadrosaur</span></a> <i><a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Parasaurolophus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Parasaurolophus</span></a></i> at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, from my visit last summer with my good friend Zach Evens (who also deserves some credit listing big-brained aliens).</td></tr>
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Now what about the aliens, or xenomorphs, from the "Alien" franchise? Although <a href="http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/alien/18250/just-how-intelligent-is-the-alien-in-the-alien-franchise" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">undeniably intelligent to some degree</span></a>, they aren't what you'd typically think of when the subject of brainy aliens comes up around the dinner table, at least not in terms of processing power. But they definitely have big heads. So what are they used for if not for thinking? We, of course, can turn to the science of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a> paleontology to help us with this question. Take a look at the dinosaur <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Skull" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">skull</span></a> above. This critter is a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hadrosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hadrosaur</span></a>, or <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Duck" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">duck</span></a>-billed dinosaur, called <i><a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Parasaurolophus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Parasaurolophus</span></a></i>. Scientists believe that it blew air through its special crest to produce a sound very similar to that of a trombone! Many hadrosaurs had wild cranial ornamentation, as did other dinosaurs such as some of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ceratopsian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ceratopsians</span></a> and the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pachycephalosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pachycephalosaurs</span></a>, just to name a few. These wacky head-dos almost certainly had a whole lot to do with attracting a mate and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sexual%20Selection" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sexual selection</span></a>. Essentially, the bigger your crest is, the more attractive you are. Is it possible a similar sort of thing evolved for the Alien xenomorphs? In "Aliens," we can see that the queen has a different head pattern than do all of the other xenomorphs that we've seen so far, indicating some sort of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sexual%20Dimorphism" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sexual dimorphism</span></a> is potentially at work. Interesting. What should you take from this blog post? Probably just that I have way too much time on my hands. <br />
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On a brief side note, I realized I've actually talked about the skull of the xenomorphs previously, before I'd even seen the movies. Check out that post, all about otter skulls, by clicking <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-skull-of-otter-alien-vs-predator.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKnlCaH__NZhItHlbagqAvjN8UPKvwpoFXMZM_fsyMWtYnknBZq4WWroQQGBfGiGug1H5w9LZcg1N4vcJvmVqXQD9clXZHvPbyk4LUGp3IMk5KJ9H2ALKUq5ield8fk0nIyzcqQ3b6g/s1600/Alien+predator+Parasaurolophus+Tyrannosaurus+Gilderoy+Lockhart+Darth+Vader+macaw+Apatosaurus+Boba+Fett+Pez+Dispenser+Ambelodon+mallard+Jumba+shark+Aragorn+Liam+Payne+basilisk+Spider-Man+penguins+Themistocles+Terri+Irwin+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKnlCaH__NZhItHlbagqAvjN8UPKvwpoFXMZM_fsyMWtYnknBZq4WWroQQGBfGiGug1H5w9LZcg1N4vcJvmVqXQD9clXZHvPbyk4LUGp3IMk5KJ9H2ALKUq5ield8fk0nIyzcqQ3b6g/s1600/Alien+predator+Parasaurolophus+Tyrannosaurus+Gilderoy+Lockhart+Darth+Vader+macaw+Apatosaurus+Boba+Fett+Pez+Dispenser+Ambelodon+mallard+Jumba+shark+Aragorn+Liam+Payne+basilisk+Spider-Man+penguins+Themistocles+Terri+Irwin+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Alien vs. predator vs. <i>Parasaurolophus</i> vs. <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus</span></a></i> vs. Lego Gilderoy Lockhart vs. Darth Vader vs. Polly Pocket vs. creepy <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Frog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">frog</span></a> candle vs. macaw vs. <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Apatosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Apatosaurus</span></a></i> vs. medieval archer vs. Boba Fett Pez Dispenser vs. <i>Ambelodon</i> vs. mallard vs. fisherman from an ironic <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fish</span></a> cake vs. Jumba vs. Craire <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Feline" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cat</span></a> Hello Thingy vs. six different types of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Shark" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">shark</span></a> vs. Taz monster truck vs. Aragorn son of Arathorn vs. Liam Payne vs. Marty from "Pirates of the Caribbean" vs. <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mouse" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mouse</span></a> cat toy vs. basilisk lizard vs. <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Spider" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Spider</span></a>-Man vs. <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Penguin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">penguins</span></a> with jet packs and missile launchers vs. Themistocles vs. Terri Irwin. </span><span style="text-align: start;">And this is why it takes me so long to write a blog post. I think we were all a little surprised about how quickly things escalated. Yeah, I definitely have too much time on my hands.</span></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-29686384225776337882015-01-03T22:52:00.001-07:002015-06-09T22:28:19.612-06:00Snowy Palms: An Omen of DeathRecently, parts of Southern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/California" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">California</span></a> experienced some surprisingly cold weather, as falling snow graced the tops of the palm <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tree" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">trees</span></a> around Christmas time. A White Christmas is nothing terribly surprising for folks like myself, born and raised in Colorado, but for California natives it was definitely more of a surprise. People had pulled over on the side of the highway for an opportunity to play in the snow, throwing snowballs and taking selfies all over the place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtjG2seZJ8oyybIzjoStXOZujiFQaL325osmYZ92mA6E3z0cdTftBuRyB9-WE6aAgpRq4Uuq7eWIQh27nNKbNJQPmPmPXarY4Tdu4S6lPc9lMZKvVFEuGXTy0NZ_OE2CcUiDWisWS4w/s1600/Snowy+mountain+tops+behind+wind+turbines+on+the+side+of+the+I-10+interstate+highway+near+Palm+Desert+and+La+Quinta+in+California+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtjG2seZJ8oyybIzjoStXOZujiFQaL325osmYZ92mA6E3z0cdTftBuRyB9-WE6aAgpRq4Uuq7eWIQh27nNKbNJQPmPmPXarY4Tdu4S6lPc9lMZKvVFEuGXTy0NZ_OE2CcUiDWisWS4w/s1600/Snowy+mountain+tops+behind+wind+turbines+on+the+side+of+the+I-10+interstate+highway+near+Palm+Desert+and+La+Quinta+in+California+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wind turbines in the foreground, and snow capped mountains in the background in the middle of the desert just outside of Palm Desert in California.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sLL-a-Cnc02I3TT3vPqJJrjZlUbH8gyjPHgWKvGuL7tdsSAbFhE22-Xrb-DMBfpHa0syWaqYAvfWrV_RTJu7OYOE4PstTalsLr94ym462oQVTFVRAfKkEJtvwpcW0ebtTI-3-GgVbQ/s1600/Playing+in+the+snow+on+the+side+of+the+I-15+interstate+in+Temecula+in+San+Diego+California+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sLL-a-Cnc02I3TT3vPqJJrjZlUbH8gyjPHgWKvGuL7tdsSAbFhE22-Xrb-DMBfpHa0syWaqYAvfWrV_RTJu7OYOE4PstTalsLr94ym462oQVTFVRAfKkEJtvwpcW0ebtTI-3-GgVbQ/s1600/Playing+in+the+snow+on+the+side+of+the+I-15+interstate+in+Temecula+in+San+Diego+California+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family stopped along Interstate-15 in Temecula, California to play in the snow, a scene that could easily have been lifted out of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, if not for the trees adorned with green leaves, and especially the palm tree in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvaVbGrOB8UEmlaOvrKBBqXZV2AgjlrcPxs8KsDpQx1vHxXVsjTnvvsfL06ZtgLdrbD6KSShCJvwZ2gm4iDm6N1UTQM2bviMo2dwnFhD3BFEArI4WkYehALWfag5r2NIRZ1CR5YJWZQ/s1600/Woman+stops+to+take+a+selfie+on+the+side+of+the+I-15+interstate+freeway+in+Temecula+in+San+Diego+California+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvaVbGrOB8UEmlaOvrKBBqXZV2AgjlrcPxs8KsDpQx1vHxXVsjTnvvsfL06ZtgLdrbD6KSShCJvwZ2gm4iDm6N1UTQM2bviMo2dwnFhD3BFEArI4WkYehALWfag5r2NIRZ1CR5YJWZQ/s1600/Woman+stops+to+take+a+selfie+on+the+side+of+the+I-15+interstate+freeway+in+Temecula+in+San+Diego+California+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snow selfie on the side of the Interstate-15 in Temecula, California.</td></tr>
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Although the winter freeze was very exciting for many of the residents, for the native residents of Southern California's deserts, the freeze would be much less welcome. Over millions of years, the animals that call these seemingly barren slopes home have evolved to cope with extreme environmental stress typical of those experienced in the desert. Aridity and extreme heat of course play major roles in any desert ecosystem, and many of the adaptations of desert animals are in response to these climatic factors. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xqohykyeLY3pSbDwRZhd1LP4VEkQNofwPE81iDCf8KY02deIf69FIjmdlRagaWd8L0I4n24WnjOsM1GpPC9cJYpu87QtCuTDr31KxV87QhCFjXpGccngcO_CC-1cCwHDb_kNs4jpeQ/s1600/Captive+bobcat+(Lynx%2Brufus)%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xqohykyeLY3pSbDwRZhd1LP4VEkQNofwPE81iDCf8KY02deIf69FIjmdlRagaWd8L0I4n24WnjOsM1GpPC9cJYpu87QtCuTDr31KxV87QhCFjXpGccngcO_CC-1cCwHDb_kNs4jpeQ/s1600/Captive+bobcat+(Lynx%2Brufus)%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bobcat" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bobcat</span></a> (<i>Lynx rufus</i>), one of the residents of the Southern California deserts. This particular individual was at <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/TLD" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">The Living Desert</span></a> in Palm Desert.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ-EAbLyI8T7Zm9x1CaQxs74TbOleFh7Mlhcg_7nPFImlPWXVy0y9Z_x5KjyCmD48n048dXsWe_KuOKzKMI6AkC9t4_GzmrM7EBFW0qZcTwSTjwEoqkkd_cCSa87n-3ABkf9uqzkJgA/s1600/Captive+male+desert+bighorn+sheep+(Ovis%2Bcanadensis%2Bnelsoni)%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ-EAbLyI8T7Zm9x1CaQxs74TbOleFh7Mlhcg_7nPFImlPWXVy0y9Z_x5KjyCmD48n048dXsWe_KuOKzKMI6AkC9t4_GzmrM7EBFW0qZcTwSTjwEoqkkd_cCSa87n-3ABkf9uqzkJgA/s1600/Captive+male+desert+bighorn+sheep+(Ovis%2Bcanadensis%2Bnelsoni)%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A captive desert <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bighorn%20Sheep" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bighorn sheep</span></a> (<i>Ovis canadensis nelsoni</i>) at The Living Desert. This subspecies is native to the southern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/United%20States" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">United States</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mexico" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Mexico</span></a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rCTBfWV7m397KQ-VWfncOB4RaQN17OuOUHo1SQSyCJNdRZfqGg3BoaWuHfBktwu-gOZX-vWNaKaCiDeoc_aD3kBtPOxuHFSMnGQGyrSkw8fz_Kt6bdbWfMVESt_BXh9ni01tAtaCJA/s1600/Captive+western+diamond-backed+rattlesnake+(Crotalus%2Batrox)%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BCalifornia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rCTBfWV7m397KQ-VWfncOB4RaQN17OuOUHo1SQSyCJNdRZfqGg3BoaWuHfBktwu-gOZX-vWNaKaCiDeoc_aD3kBtPOxuHFSMnGQGyrSkw8fz_Kt6bdbWfMVESt_BXh9ni01tAtaCJA/s1600/Captive+western+diamond-backed+rattlesnake+(Crotalus%2Batrox)%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BCalifornia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A western diamondback <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rattlesnake" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rattlesnake</span></a> (<i>Crotalus atrox</i>), also native to the southern United States and northern Mexico.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSPsNYadRP4VwTVW5w0iuyaGXajfEDPOhCtR9n499FfpMDKm0vWsCcIJYbLzZUE3UmHl2D6joQx7EtmkkR7ykKn1dKyIaRNy6iIHjUzHWYpPq_ICdTjfU2auJWRRbt0yr5jwhf3sXfQ/s1600/Greater+roadrunner+(Geococcyx%2Bcalifornianus)%2Bin%2Ba%2BTarget%2Bparking%2Blot%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BLa%2BQuinta%2BRancho%2BMirage%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSPsNYadRP4VwTVW5w0iuyaGXajfEDPOhCtR9n499FfpMDKm0vWsCcIJYbLzZUE3UmHl2D6joQx7EtmkkR7ykKn1dKyIaRNy6iIHjUzHWYpPq_ICdTjfU2auJWRRbt0yr5jwhf3sXfQ/s1600/Greater+roadrunner+(Geococcyx%2Bcalifornianus)%2Bin%2Ba%2BTarget%2Bparking%2Blot%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BLa%2BQuinta%2BRancho%2BMirage%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wild greater <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Roadrunner" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">roadrunner</span></a> (<i>Geococcyx californianus</i>) that I chased through a Target parking lot. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyeSaZE409Me9WZwEDXcEkkZvcAgJaRSacaTuwMvIGS1cH3v-loKj5p_n-IdXJ6N8MvoGeQ20vaInMWWWlW8c8zFtXsuREDogUdqlLZdQ8nJXdzXNJvSwCMki8CIR4IaSqCNQN1FZug/s1600/California+ground+squirrel+(Otospermophilus%2Bbeecheyi)%2Bwild%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyeSaZE409Me9WZwEDXcEkkZvcAgJaRSacaTuwMvIGS1cH3v-loKj5p_n-IdXJ6N8MvoGeQ20vaInMWWWlW8c8zFtXsuREDogUdqlLZdQ8nJXdzXNJvSwCMki8CIR4IaSqCNQN1FZug/s1600/California+ground+squirrel+(Otospermophilus%2Bbeecheyi)%2Bwild%2Bat%2Bthe%2BLiving%2BDesert%2Bin%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BCalifornia%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wild California ground <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Squirrel" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">squirrel</span></a> (<i>Spermophilus beecheyi</i>) that we saw foraging around at The Living Desert.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS2EQAy4lBC9jt0OpJ5km7F54xmAUmyRfZ7Hb9SGuOy3aJZoFeEw_1IFOuzWjwDdbuq2ngjzb6Ir6ZiBVwCSx-9LWuiTfzWO6J7YI4anQshlMn7A65j-BtSOC9HW5GFoESpfawhxIjQ/s1600/Hummingbird+possibly+Annas+hummingbird+(Calypte%2Banna)%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdesert%2Bof%2BSouthern%2BCalifornia%2Bnear%2BLa%2BQuinta%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BPalm%2BSprings%2BRancho%2BMirage%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzS2EQAy4lBC9jt0OpJ5km7F54xmAUmyRfZ7Hb9SGuOy3aJZoFeEw_1IFOuzWjwDdbuq2ngjzb6Ir6ZiBVwCSx-9LWuiTfzWO6J7YI4anQshlMn7A65j-BtSOC9HW5GFoESpfawhxIjQ/s1600/Hummingbird+possibly+Annas+hummingbird+(Calypte%2Banna)%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdesert%2Bof%2BSouthern%2BCalifornia%2Bnear%2BLa%2BQuinta%2BPalm%2BDesert%2BPalm%2BSprings%2BRancho%2BMirage%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hummingbird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hummingbird</span></a>, possibly an Anna's hummingbird (<i>Calypte anna</i>). Hummingbirds in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a> will fly south for the winter, in order to avoid harsh weather like that seen in Southern California last week,</td></tr>
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Of course, environmental conditions that fall well outside the norm are arguably equally important for animals native to a specific biome or region. Even if a population of animals thrives in the harsh, arid landscape of Southern California, if all it takes is a single night of snow to wipe out the population, unusual weather (such as that seen in the area last week) can be extremely troublesome. Extreme weather can also help control populations, and can be what keeps other animals from colonizing an area. For example, if a population of desert <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rodent" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rodent</span></a> attempts to colonize the mountains around Palm Desert, but is unable to cope with the occasional snow storm, then that type of rodent would be much less likely to survive and thrive there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK17FgzEGWDnAdqD-b09hCkIMblT6meQTA8l1FiDS6RqQ1bQiGmJe8NXdDZ5gEJRP_X8jWkz-aIb7F4OIj6dg5dXvdfKRIGTg4YK8mXZ3kxncQIPIS8aVNqPkssb53_WE7dTRnLPSKg/s1600/Barren+mountainous+desert+landscape+with+cactus+in+Palm+Desert+Rancho+Mirage+La+Quinta+California+with+the+Hopalong+Cassidy+Trail+visible+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK17FgzEGWDnAdqD-b09hCkIMblT6meQTA8l1FiDS6RqQ1bQiGmJe8NXdDZ5gEJRP_X8jWkz-aIb7F4OIj6dg5dXvdfKRIGTg4YK8mXZ3kxncQIPIS8aVNqPkssb53_WE7dTRnLPSKg/s1600/Barren+mountainous+desert+landscape+with+cactus+in+Palm+Desert+Rancho+Mirage+La+Quinta+California+with+the+Hopalong+Cassidy+Trail+visible+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the mountains west of La Quinta and Rancho Mirage, prior to the snowstorm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz6I9ai8aD_8K_GXGae4r01N_5dORfKcoqTf3xkqPJPJC9zgT6wiLHQxADLzCSyAHtJ-n9WBW-vuXxXdioSy_qFfmYb70Q2irzTg7MWqPjonrIGBzIF2KwQweaWJ6HILUT7hA7KyTjw/s1600/Mountain+in+La+Quinta,+Rancho+Mirage,+and+Palm+Desert+California+capped+with+snow+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz6I9ai8aD_8K_GXGae4r01N_5dORfKcoqTf3xkqPJPJC9zgT6wiLHQxADLzCSyAHtJ-n9WBW-vuXxXdioSy_qFfmYb70Q2irzTg7MWqPjonrIGBzIF2KwQweaWJ6HILUT7hA7KyTjw/s1600/Mountain+in+La+Quinta,+Rancho+Mirage,+and+Palm+Desert+California+capped+with+snow+on+New+Years+Eve+2014+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same mountains, following the snowstorm.</td></tr>
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Works Cited:<br />
<br />
Hummingbirds found in California, USA. (n.d.). Retrieved January 4, 2015, from http://beautyofbirds.com/hummingbirdscalifornia.html<br />
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<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 10px; padding: 0; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.dwellable.com/a/2947/Rancho-Mirage/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="https://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/2947.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Rancho Mirage on Dwellable</a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-86898272758198726122014-12-05T01:33:00.000-07:002015-06-09T22:24:14.961-06:00Night Changes: Why Color Blind People Aren't So Strange (But Really Are at the Same Time)"Why does your <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus</span></a></i> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Skull" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">skull</span></a> have rings on its eyes?" "Why are <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptiles</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Amphibian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">amphibians</span></a>, animals often brushed aside as "less superior" to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammals</span></a>, frequently very colorful?" "By contrast, why are so many mammals so drab?" "Does it ever drive you crazy just how fast the night changes?" All of these questions and more are ones that I've either received or asked over the last few months, and surprisingly, they are all (sort of) tied together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfPoGEAZ9qOw5Vt9PeVz9iRd5vOjWQ7hBbJ7zp7F4hWDq0iI7ENWcOt8CZwOHpuiQuGxseA0B0mjD7h9bBK13OHZiLGWEITal1t-02P6tBsYIaJ-3cwdHBsuyyjCemne4niO3FLYRZQ/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Micronesian+Kingfisher+Prestosuchus+Elephant+Raven+One+Direction+Four+Zach+Evens+Newt+Mandarin+Goby+Bees+Salamander+Coyote+Peacock+Opthalmosaurus+Microraptor+Sclerotic+Ring+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfPoGEAZ9qOw5Vt9PeVz9iRd5vOjWQ7hBbJ7zp7F4hWDq0iI7ENWcOt8CZwOHpuiQuGxseA0B0mjD7h9bBK13OHZiLGWEITal1t-02P6tBsYIaJ-3cwdHBsuyyjCemne4niO3FLYRZQ/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+Micronesian+Kingfisher+Prestosuchus+Elephant+Raven+One+Direction+Four+Zach+Evens+Newt+Mandarin+Goby+Bees+Salamander+Coyote+Peacock+Opthalmosaurus+Microraptor+Sclerotic+Ring+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selection of the stars of this post. In the top row from left to right, we have a <i>Prestosuchus</i> skull, Micronesian kingfisher, <i>Opthalmosaurus</i> skull, African elephant, and a white-necked raven. Second row, we have a male peafowl, <i>Microraptor</i> specimen, myself pulling a "District 9" with a <i>T-rex</i> arm and Stan the<i> T-rex</i> next to me at the Morrison Natural History Museum (now you finally know what I look like [irresistible], you can cross that off your bucket list), a Mandarin Goby, and the hand of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Zach%20Evens" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Zach Evens</span></a> descending upon a brightly colored newt. Finally, in the bottom row, we see a pair of <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tiger%20Salamander" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tiger salamanders</span></a>, a coyote that ran amok on the University of Colorado campus last winter, and several <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bee" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bees</span></a> swarming a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hummingbird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hummingbird</span></a> feeder at the MNHM. Did I forget anything? Oh, right, the album cover of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/One%20Direction" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">One Direction</span></a>'s new album "Four." <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">A further bonus for all you "Natural Worlders" out there: can you find the names of twenty-one One Direction songs scattered throughout the blog post? Try not to stay up all night searching for them, one way or another I have no doubt you can figure it out. Just shoot me and email, and I can get back </span><strike style="text-align: start;">for</strike><span style="text-align: start;"> to you about where they are. Just one of those little things that makes reading my blog so worthwhile.</span></span></td></tr>
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When people first walk into the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a> near Denver, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, you might see a rock hammer-toting, cowboy-hat wearing, beard-wielding <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologist</span></a> talking about <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Lizard" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">lizard</span></a> pseudo-placentas, <a href="http://blog.hmns.org/2014/07/a-tale-of-two-compys-what-jurassic-park-got-right-and-wrong-about-dino-anatomy/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">the anatomy of the dinos in Jurassic park</span></a>, or whether said <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaurs</span></a> would taste like chicken.* You might notice the bathroom first, which is more or less right across the room from the front entrance. Or, like most people, you might notice our cast of <a href="http://www.bhigr.com/pages/info/info_stan.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stan</span></a>, one of the most complete specimens of <i>Tyrannosaurus rex</i> known to mankind. We tend to get a lot of questions about this bad boy (<i>T-rex</i> consistently being the favorite dinosaur of pretty much everybody), and one question that we get a lot pertains to his eyes. You might have missed it if you were looking at the fantastic picture above, but take a look at the pictures below and you should see it: it looks like we've put little rings where the eyes should be. The question is: Why does our <i>Tyrannosaurus</i> skull have rings on its eyes? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz30lgdo6KL8fS9IjnEij4g_gOwGjGqzRO11d0AF1HsBAKngZeRB0iOVYyND-UWq3aye7phRpmPEVBcA0iz1CyZdXvIAHhXORhAg6juZNMX6HCniBOfLhmm6b23vuu48QxYP_tbqQ8A/s1600/District+9+with+a+Tyrannosaurus+rex+arm+next+to+Stan+the+Tyrannosaurus+rex+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Doug+Hartshorn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz30lgdo6KL8fS9IjnEij4g_gOwGjGqzRO11d0AF1HsBAKngZeRB0iOVYyND-UWq3aye7phRpmPEVBcA0iz1CyZdXvIAHhXORhAg6juZNMX6HCniBOfLhmm6b23vuu48QxYP_tbqQ8A/s1600/District+9+with+a+Tyrannosaurus+rex+arm+next+to+Stan+the+Tyrannosaurus+rex+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Doug+Hartshorn.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1x8hCCGZB9ciwSxpuojHGqGqT-4CL2Ns_n4YOGOOn20zrEGcUo7MQirEkIgcTxkfrGL7aBtQpg-R-4lnCjHbwslEMIHjmjpbWOuQ1c8JlbCbJoLkAjpMmo42wxkK3Y-BitgmHvxRUBw/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+skull+cast+Stan+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Sclerotic+Rings+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1x8hCCGZB9ciwSxpuojHGqGqT-4CL2Ns_n4YOGOOn20zrEGcUo7MQirEkIgcTxkfrGL7aBtQpg-R-4lnCjHbwslEMIHjmjpbWOuQ1c8JlbCbJoLkAjpMmo42wxkK3Y-BitgmHvxRUBw/s1600/Tyrannosaurus+rex+skull+cast+Stan+at+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Sclerotic+Rings+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="213" /></a>Believe it or not, this was not a once in a lifetime phenomena, and it is not a trick (excuse me, an illusion) we created to make the placement of the oculars more apparent for the casual observer. It's real, and it's called the sclerotic ring. Without getting too technical, the sclerotic ring is a ring of several bones that actually is inside of the eye of the animal, and is usually thought to help support the eye. What I find really interesting about the ring is that the default condition in vertebrate animals is possession of this bony ring. Even though you might not see it in a lot of museum specimens due to display difficulties or preservation issues, a sclerotic ring is present in most/all <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fish</span></a>, lizards, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">birds</span></a>, and dinosaurs.** You won't see it in modern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crocodilian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crocodilians</span></a>, though, and it seems like at least some <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snakes</span></a> don't have them either. What's another group that doesn't have the ring? You guessed it: mammals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1rYEtB15qOwVfltfHsliYiyMmTi389hyhnraQiSnLjQXRfttOvZA6nWbWnHUmhYqDfDe1qy4WeDoWlTed5LHM-KKwWMYfNXLSvJIn1NDBhAAdiNkIlMbyxrF4bh8p4_YTN9JyXIEyA/s1600/Masaki+Kleinkopf+poses+next+to+a+cast+of+the+skeleton+of+Pteranodon+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1rYEtB15qOwVfltfHsliYiyMmTi389hyhnraQiSnLjQXRfttOvZA6nWbWnHUmhYqDfDe1qy4WeDoWlTed5LHM-KKwWMYfNXLSvJIn1NDBhAAdiNkIlMbyxrF4bh8p4_YTN9JyXIEyA/s1600/Masaki+Kleinkopf+poses+next+to+a+cast+of+the+skeleton+of+Pteranodon+at+the+Rocky+Mountain+Dinosaur+Resource+Center+RMDRC+in+Woodland+Park+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One with the ring, one without. My bro <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Masaki%20Kleinkopf" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Masaki Kleinkopf</span></a> poses next to the mounted skeleton of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pterosaur</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pteranodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pteranodon</span></a></i> at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center (RMDRC) in Woodland Park, Colorado. Check out dat ring doe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdolCsBFxiIWQxnp9ykAaHiqwfWM9-XOasfYKitz3J6lDJfJhDLKdRY8I0N_9KQz6XiZt3fGazLnmN65M-2OCeh9CgTGyX4aYWgvuk6lmthAbwJ04V-1ludowfoRXHqH22N1fPhAeuw/s1600/Emperor+Penguin+skeleton+mounted+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdolCsBFxiIWQxnp9ykAaHiqwfWM9-XOasfYKitz3J6lDJfJhDLKdRY8I0N_9KQz6XiZt3fGazLnmN65M-2OCeh9CgTGyX4aYWgvuk6lmthAbwJ04V-1ludowfoRXHqH22N1fPhAeuw/s400/Emperor+Penguin+skeleton+mounted+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+AMNH+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mounted skeleton of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Emperor%20Penguin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">emperor penguin</span></a> (<i>Aptenodytes forsteri</i>) at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/AMNH" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">New York</span></a>. If you liked it, you should have put a ring on it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB8xRoMrg14IO-pmemmiZ4imNKF5OwDoEpGftlUATXXothj3dou3aQspToJ4d2tXzEYDsYHOHsehhWsIPMUc1t5nD0KzkJCFv4x6kdO0eHZs1Squ1xMbwFlRTZ9RGbr2K29zL6OO_vg/s1600/Falcarius+Skull+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+WDC+in+Thermopolis+Wyoming+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB8xRoMrg14IO-pmemmiZ4imNKF5OwDoEpGftlUATXXothj3dou3aQspToJ4d2tXzEYDsYHOHsehhWsIPMUc1t5nD0KzkJCFv4x6kdO0eHZs1Squ1xMbwFlRTZ9RGbr2K29zL6OO_vg/s400/Falcarius+Skull+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+WDC+in+Thermopolis+Wyoming+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Skull of the </span><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Therizinosaur" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">therizinosaur</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> dinosaur <i>Falcarius</i> on display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in </span><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Wyoming" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Wyoming</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">. One ring to rule them all.</span></td></tr>
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At this point you might be expecting some profound, fascinating statement that explains why some animals have the ring and some animals don't. Believe me, very few things would please me more than to be able to explain this to you. Unfortunately, I don't know. Even more unfortunately, <i>nobody</i> really knows! Although various explanations have been put forth over the years, I can't really find a fool('s gold fire)proof, satisfactory interpretation that broadly explains this phenomenon, and in this post I don't really wish to wade any further into this debate than we have already. We have a few more questions to answer tonight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6KYbZTy1ZHwzz_nfUInawsG4bBKSQiexmIDIIGzjSQ-05wLb0RyWL077iOAccTnQMHo4nFQEw626foNsgMZ8NGl7p2LNOMJtuJZd6ZHKYvJjnp-ts-0wOBsG_ZEBiQJBFcoCNlq9kA/s1600/Microraptor+specimen+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+(WDC)%2Bin%2BThermopolis%2BWyoming%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6KYbZTy1ZHwzz_nfUInawsG4bBKSQiexmIDIIGzjSQ-05wLb0RyWL077iOAccTnQMHo4nFQEw626foNsgMZ8NGl7p2LNOMJtuJZd6ZHKYvJjnp-ts-0wOBsG_ZEBiQJBFcoCNlq9kA/s1600/Microraptor+specimen+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+(WDC)%2Bin%2BThermopolis%2BWyoming%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small feathered dinosaur <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Microraptor" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Microraptor</span></a></i> on display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Wyoming. You can see both the impressions of feathers off the wings and legs (making this <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Velociraptor" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Velociraptor</span></a></i>-cousin comparable to the Sopwith Camel British biplane active during World War I), as well as the sclerotic ring nestled within the orbital. My preciousssss.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3MFvQ4YyXcD0XYmU5EN4qLeOOwxIQT9h-GgKyDL5ynRjJgyfHBAV7Tieey6yMMHKaCus899BQ_faYBiRMweOsLRrO_Jqc2J6l25CVj7R0nP4tYQuCuJncOc1xPV6JX3EAXjLoz2j3A/s1600/Opthalmosaurus+skull+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+(WDC)%2Bin%2BThermopolis%2BWyoming%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3MFvQ4YyXcD0XYmU5EN4qLeOOwxIQT9h-GgKyDL5ynRjJgyfHBAV7Tieey6yMMHKaCus899BQ_faYBiRMweOsLRrO_Jqc2J6l25CVj7R0nP4tYQuCuJncOc1xPV6JX3EAXjLoz2j3A/s1600/Opthalmosaurus+skull+on+display+at+the+Wyoming+Dinosaur+Center+(WDC)%2Bin%2BThermopolis%2BWyoming%2BPhoto%2BCredit%2BZack%2BNeher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The name of this <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ichthyosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ichthyosaur</span></a>, <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Opthalmosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Opthalmosaurus</span></a></i>, actually means "eye lizard," the name of which refers to the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2013/06/big-eyes.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">big @$$ eyes</span></a> and sclerotic rings of this particular genus. Better not put it on your finger, Dumbledore, it might be a Horcrux.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZKMQvvdzJRK7lcTbIlSfK4KBfxisGq6ANzevKooQ2pT70zvHOBjUq9wsNAiurKF9ayGHLrjOrmnNajHzqr0oozX-tZhCr2TCYqk-OeYvx3WfwwbSUg570554a8fsbdCy9ouXQEGcuQ/s1600/Prestosuchus+pseudosuchian+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+%2528AMNH%2529+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZKMQvvdzJRK7lcTbIlSfK4KBfxisGq6ANzevKooQ2pT70zvHOBjUq9wsNAiurKF9ayGHLrjOrmnNajHzqr0oozX-tZhCr2TCYqk-OeYvx3WfwwbSUg570554a8fsbdCy9ouXQEGcuQ/s400/Prestosuchus+pseudosuchian+skull+and+skeleton+on+display+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+%2528AMNH%2529+in+New+York+City+New+York+with+Zach+Evens+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The pseudosuchian <i>Prestosuchus</i>, on display at the AMNH in New York. This ring just exudes fellowship, don't you think?</td></tr>
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Why is Nagini usually more brightly colored than Crookshanks or Scabbers? Why are Polly's pigments predominantly prettier than Pongo's or Perdita's? Although undeniably more handsome after true love's first kiss, there's no denying than many <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Frog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">frogs</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Toad" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">toads</span></a> out there are much more exciting to look at than Prince Charming. There's got to be a reason why the characters in "Finding Nemo" were so much brighter (sorry Dory, but I mean in terms of color) than Remy from "Ratatouille," or why Kevin is much more conspicuous than Dug in "Up." But what is the reason? The answer seems to be fairly simple: with few exceptions, most mammals are colorblind. <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Primate" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Primates</span></a> are one of these exceptions, which is why we humans are able to differentiate between cherry and grape Jolly Ranchers and an <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Elephant" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">elephant</span></a> might fail, and why the Green lantern comic books and Bionicles absolutely tanked in the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Feline" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">feline</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Canine%20%28Dog%29" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">canine</span></a> demographics. Mammals are good at a lot of things, but one thing that they're not very good at is seeing in color. A picture is better than words in many cases, so check out some pics below of animals that can most definitely see in color.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTiIjUZlL9uBdQORDaBIUz1rwpspsVb_VrLX6SLQ44U_fVGjJ2YweUZ3vGnrJT0lE-cDGy2fkiDot_61l3zf_8CyCYcJ-nCcYF6mVGdXtSy0z1pI6flfyVGiUxQlUuB8CE_lxlEQLqg/s1600/White+Necked+Raven+playing+Connect+Four+4+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Teen+Career+Day+with+Dani+Neher+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTiIjUZlL9uBdQORDaBIUz1rwpspsVb_VrLX6SLQ44U_fVGjJ2YweUZ3vGnrJT0lE-cDGy2fkiDot_61l3zf_8CyCYcJ-nCcYF6mVGdXtSy0z1pI6flfyVGiUxQlUuB8CE_lxlEQLqg/s320/White+Necked+Raven+playing+Connect+Four+4+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Teen+Career+Day+with+Dani+Neher+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we have a white-necked <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Raven" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">raven</span></a> (<i>Corvus albicollis</i>) correctly putting four different colored game pieces into the correct slots at a special Teen Career Day event at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Denver%20Zoo" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Denver Zoo</span></a> that I attended with my <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dani%20Neher" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sister</span></a>. He did all eight tiles in the correct category, and it didn't take him very long, either! Some of my friends wouldn't be able to do it with such speed and accuracy....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD6hZfEcwbVnCYN44iG8RLFv_R9UwT_uauQEMSTMho5-ar_mFZpWGT3MM9BlFUxxW7EqObgrgU1BBHh1pPoLtRI6XAbWYfepXV-bjmBmhEDo9e0GwaWsGLTMHOc8V98CjvAgXUutGeQ/s1600/Male+peafowl+peacock+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+photo+credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD6hZfEcwbVnCYN44iG8RLFv_R9UwT_uauQEMSTMho5-ar_mFZpWGT3MM9BlFUxxW7EqObgrgU1BBHh1pPoLtRI6XAbWYfepXV-bjmBmhEDo9e0GwaWsGLTMHOc8V98CjvAgXUutGeQ/s1600/Male+peafowl+peacock+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+photo+credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male <span style="color: yellow;"><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Peafowl" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">peafowl</span></a> </span>(<i>Pavo cristatus</i>), often referred to as peacocks, are just one of many species of bird that use brightly colored feather to attract their mate. Maybe that's why Sauron was so angry: he knew that, no matter what he did, the giant eagles would always be able to naturally two-up him.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe600KlhhyphenhyphenPD405QcrUSeP78ehaJA6uTOhC3ebMYpCBoHZizMWnFrNc3BdVGXPg2iMpY2H3IiBHnrfxPB72lsRe_h6l_r_19Fw7Imm26XjMxKQK0vcnKg8R3-SXhyphenhyphen2IeJcUM03Z-jMg/s1600/Micronesian+kingfisher+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe600KlhhyphenhyphenPD405QcrUSeP78ehaJA6uTOhC3ebMYpCBoHZizMWnFrNc3BdVGXPg2iMpY2H3IiBHnrfxPB72lsRe_h6l_r_19Fw7Imm26XjMxKQK0vcnKg8R3-SXhyphenhyphen2IeJcUM03Z-jMg/s1600/Micronesian+kingfisher+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Micronesian kingfisher (<i>Todiramphus cinnamominus</i>) sittin' purty at the Denver Zoo. Return of the King(fisher), am I right?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ybi6NYvffppVeMXQdp_gz9Lgl5bCYOf0Zp1-71NFlcfmrO0tMlzwOh8Gsck-z5PUV7AWbsVdO5Bw2bigkYAF5iXYiaGYnvOhGF-x-aO2-feKd42TVlgpeuQU_ItoFPesmol1E6n0Og/s1600/Clown+Fish+in+a+Sea+Anemone+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ybi6NYvffppVeMXQdp_gz9Lgl5bCYOf0Zp1-71NFlcfmrO0tMlzwOh8Gsck-z5PUV7AWbsVdO5Bw2bigkYAF5iXYiaGYnvOhGF-x-aO2-feKd42TVlgpeuQU_ItoFPesmol1E6n0Og/s1600/Clown+Fish+in+a+Sea+Anemone+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A clown fish (subfamily: Amphiprioninae) taking refuge amongst the stinging tentacles of a sea anemone at the Denver Zoo. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuw0RrOR8X0T05r2Pfy4W0p3Wmx8-uS8w5Y7ixDLX2TADoPnzfq2wnk7AUnRRPR16099P5ux9BrYnSdRfshDn_kIWE8AdcG1Typ2lqGerQn1JodV10dO8F8uN9qu_3qkK_1f1MSmh4g/s1600/Mandarin+goby+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuw0RrOR8X0T05r2Pfy4W0p3Wmx8-uS8w5Y7ixDLX2TADoPnzfq2wnk7AUnRRPR16099P5ux9BrYnSdRfshDn_kIWE8AdcG1Typ2lqGerQn1JodV10dO8F8uN9qu_3qkK_1f1MSmh4g/s1600/Mandarin+goby+at+the+Denver+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mandarin goby (<i>Synchiropus splendidus</i>), a particularly beautiful fish, and very brightly colored as well. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOnGuXyWztEBy5sQehNZ4FEn_U9zzLmis46ndZego47HLTZ7U3yyZ7yPHesZvB-Ww7HEeMOZddtPGLLUOyY-5c1SKX5Szst5WfNF_acks1K5cxQJsFeroYQtZhUaNozhF2-tmT3-CvQ/s1600/Juan+Priestly+the+Betta+Fish+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOnGuXyWztEBy5sQehNZ4FEn_U9zzLmis46ndZego47HLTZ7U3yyZ7yPHesZvB-Ww7HEeMOZddtPGLLUOyY-5c1SKX5Szst5WfNF_acks1K5cxQJsFeroYQtZhUaNozhF2-tmT3-CvQ/s1600/Juan+Priestly+the+Betta+Fish+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my two betta fish (<i>Betta splendens</i>), Juan Priestly. Bright bodies with frilly fins? Glad I'm not a betta fish, this one would steal my girl right out from under me.</td></tr>
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Just like the default condition for vertebrates is to possess a sclerotic ring, so too does it seem that the default condition for vision is color. So if mammals are supposedly so superior, why do so many of us lack this colorful condition? Many paleontologists have been looking back to the Mesozoic Era, the age of the dinosaurs, to try and solve this colorful conundrum. Just as mammals have been the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for the last 65 million years, so too did the dinosaurs rule the land during the Mesozoic, suppressing all other forms of life and filling most of the major terrestrial niches. One of those life forms that was consistently suppressed from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Triassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Triassic</span></a> through the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cretaceous</span></a> was mammals. Mostly small, shrew-like animals, Mesozoic mammals are usually thought to have been small, nocturnal creatures, pittering and pattering around the bodies of the sleeping dinos, ready to run at a moments notice. Key word in that last sentence: <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Nocturnal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">nocturnal</span></a>. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzbFkfgB453g7bAwLoOTZPu7edVTZb_o1dpo0JI-J8n7Sr_v_Kd1au8nV_T4AXdjur2HhY40xb_G_b-DynjxCCI93E9qblZ71PSLPZQ8Cup4tScQFKrXZF96UYxxMECqbxBrOZe3rMQ/s1600/Meadow+Vole+that+I+rescued+from+a+red+fox+last+year+on+the+University+of+Colorado+campus+in+Boulder+whose+name+is+Hufflepuff+or+Huffle+for+short+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzbFkfgB453g7bAwLoOTZPu7edVTZb_o1dpo0JI-J8n7Sr_v_Kd1au8nV_T4AXdjur2HhY40xb_G_b-DynjxCCI93E9qblZ71PSLPZQ8Cup4tScQFKrXZF96UYxxMECqbxBrOZe3rMQ/s1600/Meadow+Vole+that+I+rescued+from+a+red+fox+last+year+on+the+University+of+Colorado+campus+in+Boulder+whose+name+is+Hufflepuff+or+Huffle+for+short+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Can you see the little <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mouse" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mouse</span></a>-looking animal hiding underneath the box in the middle of the photograph? That's Hufflepuff (Huffle to his friends), a small meadow vole (<i>Microtus pennsylvanicus</i>) that tried to hide underneath my legs when a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Red%20Fox" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">red fox</span></a> (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) happily tried to make a meal out of him last year on CU campus! Knowing he probably had had the vole equivalent of a heart attack and taking pity on him, I said "I'll save you tonight!" and let him recover for a few days in my room before letting him go to let him live while he was young (which isn't long, I don't think most voles live longer than a year or so, but I could be wrong). A nocturnal critter, he would have very little use for color vision, and has relatively drab coloration.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8Jv03d0tmtNi9q-vt_oEkurXbq4g0i2Dq9YkTcUOe1QM0KcdD-s769et2VDkskHICYNKOGOzZ3BovTtKxOQSe_7zoO9mrJvgrpTbM4gt1hRrQ-UdrFwAcJG3ips0zxl2GiB8NP905w/s1600/Coyote+runs+amok+on+the+University+of+Colorado+Campus+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8Jv03d0tmtNi9q-vt_oEkurXbq4g0i2Dq9YkTcUOe1QM0KcdD-s769et2VDkskHICYNKOGOzZ3BovTtKxOQSe_7zoO9mrJvgrpTbM4gt1hRrQ-UdrFwAcJG3ips0zxl2GiB8NP905w/s1600/Coyote+runs+amok+on+the+University+of+Colorado+Campus+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More wildlife from CU campus! This <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Coyote" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">coyote</span></a> (<i>Canis latrans</i>) caused a bit of a stir last winter when it decided to crash on Farrand Field for a few hours, right in the middle of CU campus. Although not exclusively nocturnal, coyotes are often active at night, but are quite adaptable, as was evidenced by this particular coyote's behavior, alive and well in the middle of campus! Note the relatively drab coloration.</span></td></tr>
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I have a friend who is partially colorblind, about as colorblind as an elephant according to some recent studies. If you see him outside, he's going to be wearing sunglasses (unless he's done something to piss off Poseidon).*** Is he doing it just to look cool? Well, yes, I suppose that's at least partially the case. But for him, and for many other people who suffer from color blindness, it seems like they make up for it with above average night vision. Essentially, an imbalance of rods (a photoreceptor that is not sensitive to color but is sensitive to light and dark conditions and aids in night vision) and cones (a photoreceptor that is sensitive to color and less sensitive to light/dark conditions) leads to many who are color blind reporting better than average ability to see what's going on in low-lighting conditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kFEODPYpzD0qtggG77E22KoOE9MNXQ_g_t34XMXbGBKGYU93OXShq29jIk0JjhhesMS7L3wAa9qWlpepWTJwu1t_WktUGkv65aopyNnfgD6f9N9FnWa4zXuBHRqIK-Lb8zH_lJdsIQ/s1600/African+elephant+drinking+water+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kFEODPYpzD0qtggG77E22KoOE9MNXQ_g_t34XMXbGBKGYU93OXShq29jIk0JjhhesMS7L3wAa9qWlpepWTJwu1t_WktUGkv65aopyNnfgD6f9N9FnWa4zXuBHRqIK-Lb8zH_lJdsIQ/s1600/African+elephant+drinking+water+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">African</span></a> elephant drinking some water at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/CMZ" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cheyenne Mountain Zoo</span></a> in Colorado Springs. Drab colors? You betcha!</td></tr>
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<div>
When all of these seemingly disparate ideas are regarded holistically, it seems to make sense. By default, most vertebrates enjoy a wide range of color vision (sometimes even a wider range than humans!). However, during the Mesozoic dinosaurian domination, some groups of vertebrates such as the mammals were forced to take up residence during the night. For millions of years, these little creatures lived a nocturnal existence, and it seems like being able to see in color no longer proved to be a competitive advantage for them. Following the extinction of the dinosaurs and the subsequent radiation of mammals, it appears that the possession of color vision was unnecessary for them to survive and thrive. Many mammals are still largely nocturnal today (think of your kitty at home and all of her midnight memories), which might have something to do with this disparity between their rods and cones. All in all, it would appear that changes of the night can have some pretty profound effects on your ability to see across the color spectrum.<br />
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<br />
*You will probably come across them doing some serious work as well, but dinosaur taste-testing can be pretty important.<br />
**I thought that Dr. Bakker, who I talked to a lot about this, mentioned that most or all frogs had the sclerotic ring, but I have been unable to confirm or deny this with a quick search through the resources I have at my disposal.<br />
***Twice.<br />
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Works Cited:<br />
<a name='more'></a>Allis, T. (1849). On the Sclerotic Ring of the Eyes of Birds and Reptiles. "Proceedings" of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from https://archive.org/stream/onscleroticringo00allirich/onscleroticringo00allirich_djvu.txt<br />
<br />
Curtis, Elizabeth L., & Miller, Robert C. (1938). The Sclerotic Ring in North American Birds. The Auk, 55(2), 225-243. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4078198?uid=3739568&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21105375434903<br />
<br />
Yokoyama, S. (2005). Elephants and Human Color-Blind Deuteranopes Have Identical Sets of Visual Pigments. Genetics, 335-344. Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1449733/</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-25486718451179064072014-09-21T17:29:00.001-06:002015-06-09T22:18:55.097-06:00Taima the Seattle Seahawk and the Genus ButeoFor those of you who watching the Broncos/Seahawks game right now, you might have noticed clips of a random <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird%20of%20Prey" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bird of prey</span></a> flying around which, if you're anything like me, that was the highlight of the entire game. Named Taima, the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bird</span></a> is the mascot for the Seattle Seahawks football team, an augur hawk (<i>Buteo rufofuscus</i>). Although sometimes referred to as the augur buzzard, I prefer the name augur hawk, as buzzard is sometimes a bit of a confusing name.* According to the Seahawks website, Taima has been the "first one out of the tunnel" prior to every game.** The augur hawk is one of the most common <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hawk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hawks</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Africa</span></a>, and inhabits an enormous portion of the eastern and central part of the continent. Open plains, grasslands, and forests are the augur's preferred habitat, fairly similar to its close <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North American</span></a> cousin, the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Red-tailed%20Hawk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">red-tailed hawk</span></a> (<i>Buteo jaimaicensis</i>). <br />
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The broad-winged hawk (<i>Buteo platypterus</i>) is one of the smallest members of the genus, and a hawk that's involved in a very interesting new project, the aptly named "Broad-Winged Hawk Project." Similar in many ways to the <a href="http://www.ocearch.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">OCEARCH shark tracking project</span></a>, the BWHP is using satellite telemetry technology to track broad-winged hawks on their migration from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pennsylvania" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pennsylvania</span></a>, all the way down to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Central%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Central</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South America</span></a>. You can join in the tracking fun by clicking on the link <a href="http://www.hawkmountain.org/science/broadwing-tracking/page.aspx?id=4456&utm_campaign=broadwing+study&utm_medium=friendly+url&utm_source=magazinew&utm_content=fall+2014" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>! Several of the nestling broad-wings were from pretty close to where my friend <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Zach%20Evens" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Zach Evens</span></a>'s cabin in Pennsylvania was that we visited in August!<br />
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There are a ton of other hawks in the genus Buteo besides the red-tail, augur, and broad-wing, several of which we've talked about here on the blog, such as the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Red-Shouldered%20Hawk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">red-shouldered hawk</span></a> (<i>B. lineatus</i>), <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rough-Legged%20Hawk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rough-legged hawk</span></a> (<i>B. lagopus</i>), and the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Swainson%27s%20Hawk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Swainson's hawk</span></a> (<i>B. swainsoni</i>). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGHrS7N-WbxvykvIHZSCNYTWk_2Mdvnw_ySBpqMD4nNPQeYSSLXUjctqvW1zHiCCyssONbYq2wPdTAobj9Rx7cahCT4RTk4Tjo9S6DFSJIULarVr1N68Gg7G9kKpYycmM-7ts42bPmQ/s1600/Rough+Legged+Hawk+from+the+Raptor+Education+Foundation+Being+Held+by+Anne+Price+Curator+of+Raptors+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGHrS7N-WbxvykvIHZSCNYTWk_2Mdvnw_ySBpqMD4nNPQeYSSLXUjctqvW1zHiCCyssONbYq2wPdTAobj9Rx7cahCT4RTk4Tjo9S6DFSJIULarVr1N68Gg7G9kKpYycmM-7ts42bPmQ/s1600/Rough+Legged+Hawk+from+the+Raptor+Education+Foundation+Being+Held+by+Anne+Price+Curator+of+Raptors+at+the+Best+Western+Denver+Southwest+in+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rough-legged hawk on the hand of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Anne%20Price" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Anne Price</span></a>, the Curator of Raptors for the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/REF" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Raptor Education Foundation</span></a> at one of the raptor shows at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/BWDS" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Best Western Denver Southwest</span></a>!</td></tr>
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*In the Americas, a buzzard typically refers to a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20World%20Vulture" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">vulture</span></a>, while in the Old World, buzzard is often attributed to members of the genus <i>Buteo</i>, of which the augur hawk is a member. We Americans tend to refer to buteos simply as hawks, which is part of what can lead to this confusion.<br />
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**For those of you not in the know, the tunnel is not a metaphorical tunnel, and instead refers to a legit tunnel that leads from the locker room onto the stadium. <br />
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Works Cited:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Augur Buzzard. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.aviary.org/animals/Augur-Buzzard<br />
<br />
Buteos. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/education/wns/buteos.pdf<br />
<br />
Buteos. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://theraptortrust.org/the-birds/hawk-facts/buteos/<br />
<br />
New study shares movements of migrating hawks. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://republicanherald.com/news/new-study-shares-movements-of-migrating-hawks-1.1757479<br />
<br />
Species. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/factsheet/22732019/additional<br />
<br />
Taima the Hawk. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.seahawks.com/gameday/taima-the-hawk.htmlAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-91848126764767660122014-09-10T11:04:00.000-06:002015-06-09T22:33:02.772-06:00Anoxic Conditions From Everest to Europa: Swamps, Fossils, Naked Mole Rats, and the Hunt for Extraterrestrial LifeAbove elevations of 6500 meters (21,300 feet), most climbers tend to start using supplemental oxygen. At altitudes higher than this, oxygen is spread so thin that humans can have a very tough time breathing. Even people who come from sea level to my hometown of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Boulder" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Boulder</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a> at an elevation of 1,655 meters (5,430 feet) often get altitude sickness, and there's still a whole lot of altitude to go before you even get to Everest Base Camp. Most <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">birds</span></a> don't fly as high as the summit of Mt. Everest, because most birds have no reason to fly that high. However, for the bar-headed <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Goose" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">goose</span></a>, the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Himalayas" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Himalayas</span></a> form an unfortunate, but not impassable, barrier between their winter feeding grounds in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/India" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">India</span></a> and their <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tibet" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tibetan</span></a> nesting grounds. These geese have been reported flying over some of the highest Himalayan peaks, and they're not the only ones that fly this high. On November 29th, 1973, a Rüppell's griffon, a type of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Old%20World%20Vulture" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Old World vulture</span></a>, collided with an airplane at an altitude of 11280 meters (37,000 feet). By comparison, oxygen cylinders are recommended for sailplane pilots flying over 3660 meters (12,000 feet)! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3j3dTtJB3F_R8Z3iBlk0cwhOy36xGwzwYp7WuiPET3vHHhmcf60ywIFZNkrZpzr6PI0neUNu51N_7SQaqp59XlRIguPV4cptByqPG2H7SE7LAt06IQ4aMiQN1vVF5LTp8vntEDl0Gw/s1600/Altitude+and+Height+Chart+With+Mount+Everest+Mt+Elbert+Mt+Kilimanjaro+Star+Destroyer+Airplane+Snow+Leopard+Mallard+Helicopter+Half+Dome+Game+of+Thrones+Wall+Uluru+Half+Dome+Denver+Mallard+Pan+Am+Wooper+Swan+Bumblebee+Griffon+Bird+by+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3j3dTtJB3F_R8Z3iBlk0cwhOy36xGwzwYp7WuiPET3vHHhmcf60ywIFZNkrZpzr6PI0neUNu51N_7SQaqp59XlRIguPV4cptByqPG2H7SE7LAt06IQ4aMiQN1vVF5LTp8vntEDl0Gw/s1600/Altitude+and+Height+Chart+With+Mount+Everest+Mt+Elbert+Mt+Kilimanjaro+Star+Destroyer+Airplane+Snow+Leopard+Mallard+Helicopter+Half+Dome+Game+of+Thrones+Wall+Uluru+Half+Dome+Denver+Mallard+Pan+Am+Wooper+Swan+Bumblebee+Griffon+Bird+by+Zack+Neher.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we have a beautiful (and extraordinarily neat) size comparison and altitude chart of a number of things covered in the post, including the altitude of Denver, the summit of Mt. Everest, the upper extent of the range of the snow leopard, and the height at which the Rüppells griffon got sucked into the jet engine. I've also thrown in some other helpful and fun things for comparison as well.</td></tr>
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Part of what helps birds survive at altitudes that could kill a human is a series of air sacs that allow air to flow in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/One%20Direction" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">one direction</span></a> through the body of the bird. In humans, the air we breath in and out travels back and forth along the same tubes. In birds, as well as some of their close <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaurian</span></a> cousins, these air sacs would have have allowed the air to flow more efficiently through their bodies. While this is simply one of many adaptations that can help birds fly at incredibly high altitudes, other animals have evolved other adaptations to assist in high altitude living. Scientists have determined that changes in the genes EGLN1 and EPAS1 are linked with animals living in oxygen impoverished environments, such as the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snow%20Leopard" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snow leopard</span></a>, humans native to Tibet, and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Naked%20Mole%20Rat" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">naked mole rats</span></a>. Naked mole rats live in underground colonies of 20-300 individuals, and are one of two species of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammal</span></a> that can be classified as "eusocial," meaning that their colonies display a caste system (similar to the social structure seen in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ant" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ant</span></a> and termite colonies). These underground colonies are poorly ventilated, which means that as the mole rats inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, CO2 concentrations can increase to levels that would be unsafe for humans. Fortunately, naked mole rats are well adapted to breathing very little oxygen, and their brains seem incapable of registering pain upon contact with acids, which is thought to help them in these CO2 rich confines. They also demonstrate similar changes in the aforementioned genes as snow leopards and the Tibetan people, indicating another adaptation to these low oxygen (or hypoxic) conditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPlLXxfC7oBKUHKH5MHsiYccq67m51IhgU7Cpz-3YNm4YZxVC6jPi8E9_5pHML4lvoxbEZnpnUjckn9bMk8mUejkhBvQo4TbyNZvmbLuuSt_z1cXAfLH3w1bN04wpahBqstGTdTQMFQ/s1600/Naked+Mole+Rats+Clustered+Together+in+their+Burrow+Look+at+the+Eusociality+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPlLXxfC7oBKUHKH5MHsiYccq67m51IhgU7Cpz-3YNm4YZxVC6jPi8E9_5pHML4lvoxbEZnpnUjckn9bMk8mUejkhBvQo4TbyNZvmbLuuSt_z1cXAfLH3w1bN04wpahBqstGTdTQMFQ/s1600/Naked+Mole+Rats+Clustered+Together+in+their+Burrow+Look+at+the+Eusociality+at+the+Cheyenne+Mountain+Zoo+in+Colorado+Springs+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of naked mole rats all huddled together at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/CMZ" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cheyenne Mountain Zoo</span></a> in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Look at all of that eusociality!</td></tr>
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Although hypoxic conditions can bode ill for human climbers and gregarious colonial <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rodent" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rodents</span></a>, low oxygen conditions can be great for <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologists</span></a>. When oxygen levels drop to nearly zero, anoxic conditions prevail, and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bacteria" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bacterial</span></a> decomposition of organic material is greatly reduced. This can be a major factor when it comes to soft-tissue preservation, such as feathers and skin. <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2014/06/gres-voltzia-mid-triassic-french.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">A FEW WEEKS AGO</span></a>, we talked about several famous fossil sites called <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Lagerst%C3%A4tte" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Lagerstätten</span></a> (a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Germany" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">German</span></a> term meaning "mother lode"), that are set apart from other fossil deposits due to the quality and/or quantity of the fossils discovered there. One of the most famous examples is the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cambrian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cambrian</span></a>-aged <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Burgess%20Shale" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Burgess Shale</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/B.C." target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">British Columbia</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Canada" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Canada</span></a>. Abrupt burial of the 500 million year old organisms, coupled with the anoxic conditions that prevailed at the bottom of this body of water, ensured that these soft-bodied organisms would be preserved in exquisite detail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxauX8xe0G-rgY0kid5Vb4PM2sQA4ullbbiqhxfHNfDlHFO1Ig9Nd60MrqEf002tGKAvDE8yhyphenhyphen7G5U-RbfR6lhD0hJxKA5MMfst-dQFsq3ux2kuMCXbGFkWBSL7-FCJ51FQmT34AC7Q/s1600/Opabinia+From+the+Burgess+Shale+in+British+Columbia+Canada+Cambrian+Photo+Credit+Sam+Lippincott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxauX8xe0G-rgY0kid5Vb4PM2sQA4ullbbiqhxfHNfDlHFO1Ig9Nd60MrqEf002tGKAvDE8yhyphenhyphen7G5U-RbfR6lhD0hJxKA5MMfst-dQFsq3ux2kuMCXbGFkWBSL7-FCJ51FQmT34AC7Q/s1600/Opabinia+From+the+Burgess+Shale+in+British+Columbia+Canada+Cambrian+Photo+Credit+Sam+Lippincott.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drawing of <i>Opabinia</i>, one of the many creatures that inhabited the Cambrian aged Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada. Photo Credit: <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sam%20Lippincott" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Sam Lippincott</span></a></td></tr>
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Why do swamps often have that rotten <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Egg" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">egg</span></a> smell? Believe it or not, the answer is closely related to what we've already been talking about! Under hypoxic or anoxic conditions, bacteria that use oxygen (O2) sometimes have to make do with sulfur (S). If you look at a periodic table, you can see that sulfur (element #16) is directly below oxygen (element #8). In the periodic table, each group (or column) of elements has very similar chemical properties, which means each element will react in a similar fashion.* For the bacteria that can't get enough oxygen, they will sometimes turn to its close cousin sulfur instead. Below is the chemical formula for cellular respiration, which is what these bacteria do, as well as some of the cells in humans. On the left, we have the inputs: glucose (C6H12O6), and oxygen (O2). When we breath in air, we are bringing oxygen into our lungs, and we can get glucose from the foods we eat. On the right of the arrow, we have the outputs: water (H20), carbon dioxide (CO2), and energy. Remember how we talked about the CO2 concentrations in naked mole rat burrows? CO2 is one of the products of respiration, and one that can be harmful in large doses. Energy is another product of respiration, which is the fuel that cells need to do their job. In places where there is less oxygen input (such as at the top of Mt. Everest or in a naked mole rat burrow), the cells don't get as much energy output, and they can't do their job as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLHqCyIasi1tw0zbuHigYTj9CFurYUoOOamj8NMCNGmfkJlg29BDr0b90PU6Mmw9QVH0_8whkmuMZ-fr2bN0SqNj-pbUzvI7LdgRbYay8iak_ksz_e2zY9UgvjqCZwsZXXHXhDgwGbA/s1600/Cellular+Respiration+Equation+by+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLHqCyIasi1tw0zbuHigYTj9CFurYUoOOamj8NMCNGmfkJlg29BDr0b90PU6Mmw9QVH0_8whkmuMZ-fr2bN0SqNj-pbUzvI7LdgRbYay8iak_ksz_e2zY9UgvjqCZwsZXXHXhDgwGbA/s1600/Cellular+Respiration+Equation+by+Zack+Neher.png" width="550" /></a></div>
Now, instead of having oxygen as one of the inputs of cellular respiration, let's try sticking oxygen's close cousin, sulfur, into the equation to see what will happen. As you can see below, the glucose on the left of the equation remains unaffected, as does the carbon dioxide output on the right of the equation. But instead of having water (H2O) as another one of the outputs, we now see a molecule with the formula H2S. Instead of forming water (hydrogen oxide), we have now formed a closely related molecule, hydrogen sulfide. In swamps, large amounts of organic material leads to lots of bacteria and bacterial decomposition, which in turn can lead to lots of the oxygen being used up in the water. That's when these bacteria start using sulfur to make their energy, producing hydrogen sulfide, with that characteristic rotten egg smell. Even with this sulfur replacement, sometimes the bacteria just can't keep up with the amount of vegetation that is deposited in the swamp, and the organic material builds up. If the rate at which the vegetation accumulates exceeds the rate which the bacteria can decompose the vegetation, then you have coal formation potential sometime in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ-aTbZIOtCQoFf4ThDDVvkeumvx4J5rs7lSA1UKHavtI5QPlyPYEPqqV7vlK3rjBCdJbe1ECgwrtSvIINQyI5mNGLLbZYdZc5hu51Yyn34PnEU8OODfzYF9ux8JBiJgIKQGszhW_Jw/s1600/Cellular+Respiration+With+Sulfur+Replacement+by+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ-aTbZIOtCQoFf4ThDDVvkeumvx4J5rs7lSA1UKHavtI5QPlyPYEPqqV7vlK3rjBCdJbe1ECgwrtSvIINQyI5mNGLLbZYdZc5hu51Yyn34PnEU8OODfzYF9ux8JBiJgIKQGszhW_Jw/s1600/Cellular+Respiration+With+Sulfur+Replacement+by+Zack+Neher.png" width="550" /></a></div>
Let's take this one step further. In normal respiration, where oxygen is one of the inputs and water (H2O) is one of the outputs, carbon dioxide (CO2) is another one of the outputs. If animals and bacteria keep using up oxygen and turning it into carbon dioxide, why haven't we run out of oxygen? Will we run out one day? Fortunately, for the time being, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Plant" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">plants</span></a> have got our back, by undergoing a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is almost the exact opposite of respiration: carbon dioxide and water are the inputs, and glucose and oxygen are the outputs. However, unlike respiration, light is one of the inputs of photosynthesis. In the 1700s, a man named Joseph Priestly did experiments in which he sealed a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mouse" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mouse</span></a> in a jar, and waited to see what happened. The mouse, as you could probably predict, suffocated and died. It used up its oxygen to create energy (as well as carbon dioxide), and eventually ran out of oxygen. (This is why it's important not to put animals into completely sealed jars with no airflow, as they will suffocate.) However, if he put a plant into the same jar as the mouse, the mouse didn't suffocate. We now know that is because, as the mouse used up the oxygen, creating carbon dioxide, the plant would use the carbon dioxide, ultimately creating more oxygen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_u-1DGfDaBy81vVQAFq7y9FkeBZ00LCwCsYTS93u-XUQ30OE6XmSyu2-z-WG1YrSPOxRkuAYryTKUBsO3uIblK70wNTFrGqyDwH_RwVLOwvoqztS-5Uhyy06SH3f3oUkllyfyFgUMw/s1600/Photosynthesis+Equation+by+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_u-1DGfDaBy81vVQAFq7y9FkeBZ00LCwCsYTS93u-XUQ30OE6XmSyu2-z-WG1YrSPOxRkuAYryTKUBsO3uIblK70wNTFrGqyDwH_RwVLOwvoqztS-5Uhyy06SH3f3oUkllyfyFgUMw/s1600/Photosynthesis+Equation+by+Zack+Neher.png" width="550" /></a></div>
As you probably know, plants need light to survive, and as we mentioned before, that's because light is one of the inputs of photosynthesis. No light, no photosynthesis. No photosynthesis, your plant dies. For many years, scientists assumed that all life on Earth was directly dependent on the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sun" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Sun</span></a> for its energy. That is, until 1977, when scientists discovered entire communities of biological organisms living thousands of meters beneath the surface of the ocean, too far from any sunlight to undergo photosynthesis. So what was going on? How were these communities able to survive without access to the sunlight?<br />
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Hydrothermal vents are essentially underwater hot springs that form along tectonic boundaries thousands of meters beneath the surface of the ocean. These underwater vents spew different compounds containing sulfur into the surrounding water, just like aboveground geysers do, too. (If you have ever been to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Yellowstone" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Yellowstone National Park</span></a>, then you might even remember the rotten egg smell.) Some bacteria that surround these vents are actually able to use these sulfur-containing compounds to create the energy needed to undergo a process similar to photosynthesis, called chemosynthesis (consult the equation below). Chemosynthesis is very similar to photosynthesis, with a few key differences, the biggest difference being the sulfur reactions vs. sunlight as one of the inputs. You can also see that, instead of having water (H2O) as an input like in photosynthesis, chemosynthesis instead uses hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as an input. Then, instead of producing oxygen, the chemosynthetic organisms produce water and sulfur. You can compare it to the oxygen-poor respiration equation that we talked about with the swamps, and see that it is similar to that equation as well, simply flipped around.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b-FB_rndH1L729E8mZJcrOmb1Z7j6DA1TrisEUgWMtzrjXE4AwsiReoJBgyNvE0Bw7wC6R7nclBswtR277Pj4FOlZqENwsEHcQFhMSYqDtyJ5GtCOV2SNmsIvE7xDsVzSIHNfVUJlQ/s1600/Chemosynthesis+Equation+by+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b-FB_rndH1L729E8mZJcrOmb1Z7j6DA1TrisEUgWMtzrjXE4AwsiReoJBgyNvE0Bw7wC6R7nclBswtR277Pj4FOlZqENwsEHcQFhMSYqDtyJ5GtCOV2SNmsIvE7xDsVzSIHNfVUJlQ/s1600/Chemosynthesis+Equation+by+Zack+Neher.png" width="550" /></a></div>
But that's not all. Scientists have taken this idea a step (or rather, one giant leap) further. The search for life on other planets thus far has yielded nothing, but that doesn't mean it's not there. It is now realized that some of the factors that were once thought to limit the development of life, such as sunlight, might not be as crucial as we once thought, and the hydrothermal vent communities have been crucial in the maturation of these ideas. Some scientists suspect that life could exist on Mars by using chemosynthesis, but a new candidate has been receiving an increasing amount of attention: one of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jupiter" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jupiter's</span></a> moons, Europa. Icier than the planet Hoth, Europa is now thought to have an ocean of liquid water up to 160 km (100 miles) deep surrounding the solid, rocky mantle, following the discovery of a magnetic field surrounding the moon, similar to the magnetic field that surrounds the Earth.<br />
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What keeps the liquid ocean of Europa from freezing solid? Jupiter is pretty far from the Sun, and even Mars, which is much closer to both the Sun and the Earth than Jupiter is, has had its water frozen for millennia. It's thought that the gravity exerted by the enormous mass of Jupiter continually pushes and pulls, or tidal stresses, on its moons, which keep the planets from becoming tectonically inactive, like Mars. Io, another of Jupiter's moons slightly larger than our <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Moon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Moon</span></a>, is the most geologically active body in our Solar System. The tidal stresses from Jupiter exerted on Io apparently make Io's ground itself buckle up and down, similar to the tides we experience here on Earth, except that instead of water moving up and down 18 meters (60 feet), its solid ground moving up and down up to 100 meters (330 feet!) It's these same tidal stresses that make Io so geologically and volcanically active that help keep Europa from freezing solid. It has been hypothesized that the tidal flexing might also create hydrothermal vents on the bottom of Europa's oceans, and it shouldn't take too much thinking to realize what that might mean: the potential for extraterrestrial life!<br />
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*For example, we humans, as well as all known lifeforms, are carbon-based. In science fiction, such as Star Trek and Transformers, you will often hear about "silicon-based lifeforms." Why silicon, as opposed to any other element? If you look at the periodic table, silicon is in the same group as carbon, and situated right beneath it, and therefore has very similar chemical properties as carbon.<br />
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Works Cited: <br />
<a name='more'></a>Audubon: Birds. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/birds/birds0011.html<br />
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Bird Respiratory System. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/birdrespiration.html<br />
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Cho, Y. S. et al. The tiger genome and comparative analysis with lion and snow leopard genomes. Nat. Commun. 4:2433 doi: 10.1038/ncomms3433 (2013).<br />
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Europa: Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jup_Europa&Display=OverviewLong<br />
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Hindustan Dhruv (Advanced Utility Helicopter). (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://helicopters.findthebest.com/l/91/Hindustan-Dhruv-Advanced-Utility-Helicopter<br />
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A hydrothermal vent forms when seawater meets hot magma. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/vents.html<br />
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Io: Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jup_Io<br />
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Johnston, I. (2008, June 1). Bumblebees Set New Insect Record For High-Altitude Flying. Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/bumblebees-set-new-insect-record-for-highaltitude-flying-837834.html<br />
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Satheesan, S., & Satheesan, M. (n.d.). Serious Vulture-Hits to Aircraft Over the World. Retrieved September 5, 2014, from http://worldbirdstrike.com/IBSC/Amsterdam/IBSC25 WPSA3.pdf</div>
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Taylor, F. (1958, April 1). The Jet Stream is the Villain. Popular Mechanics Magazine.<br />
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Wedel, M. (2009). Evidence for bird-like air sacs in saurischian dinosaurs. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, 611-628. Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19204909<br />
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What Is Chemosynthesis? (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-chemosynthesis.htm</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-12082151365359328062014-08-21T20:51:00.001-06:002015-04-25T15:41:44.053-06:00'Donts and 'Apsids: Ancestral Dinos and Mammals of the Mid-TriassicWhen it comes to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaurs</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammals</span></a>, neither had quite yet evolved yet. Most people consider animals like <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Herrerasaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Herrerasaurus</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Eoraptor" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Eoraptor</span></a></i> to be among the oldest known dinosaurs, but others now consider <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Nyasasaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Nyasasaurus</span></a></i> to be the oldest, originating from 240 MY old rocks from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tanzania" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tanzania</span></a>. Many dinosaurs looked very similar to other, closely related <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Archosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">archosaurs</span></a>, and only extensive research and more specimens will be able to shed light on these ancient critters. <br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Mammalian ancestors took the form of the now-extinct dicynodonts and the cynodonts, the latter of which include modern mammals, as well. In modern mammals, you can see how the skull only has a single hole behind the eye (the space where the coronoid process sneaks in between the main part of the skull and the extruding zygomatic arch), making it a synapsid, or "one-holer." In previous posts, we've talked about primitive, mammal-like animals such as <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dimetrodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dimetrodon</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cotylorhynchus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cotylorhynchus</span></a></i>. Both of these critters are synapsids. Diapsids, or "two-holers" (remember from our recent <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Greek%2FLatin%20Roots" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Latin/Greek Roots</span></a> post that the root "di" means "two" [click <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2014/06/bi-di-miss-american-pie-number-two.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a> to read that post]), is another large group, and includes everything from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crocodile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crocodiles</span></a> to dinosaurs, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Lizard" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">lizards</span></a> to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snakes</span></a>, and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tuatara" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tuataras</span></a> to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">birds</span></a>. It also includes the archosaurs, a subgrouping of diapsids that are characterized by an additional hole in the skull, bringing the total number of skull holes up to three. So some diapsids are also archosaurs, such as birds, dinosaurs, and crocodiles. There's also the anapsids, which are animals with no holes in the skull, such as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Amphibian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">amphibians</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Turtle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">turtles</span></a>. Taxonomically, this can get a bit confusing (especially since sometimes an animals classification doesn't correspond to the number of holes that it has at that point in its evolutionary history), and maybe later we can go into greater detail about these different 'apsids, but below we have a nice picture that should help clear things up a little.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcoO8MqsTzafLBPyRIhsOIxNJhoih6IiGvz2JhfrJaWCxhnNRFhyphenhyphentha1GioqepYiR07fHyHgEvH23O_6S6egk7VGodJ6ETJSG43de8CA381byCPKqzMWE7EfbY9NibblSCuq9JeaZIg/s1600/Holes+in+the+Skull+Including+Protostega+Prestosuchus+Hyaenodon+and+Edaphosaurus+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcoO8MqsTzafLBPyRIhsOIxNJhoih6IiGvz2JhfrJaWCxhnNRFhyphenhyphentha1GioqepYiR07fHyHgEvH23O_6S6egk7VGodJ6ETJSG43de8CA381byCPKqzMWE7EfbY9NibblSCuq9JeaZIg/s1600/Holes+in+the+Skull+Including+Protostega+Prestosuchus+Hyaenodon+and+Edaphosaurus+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" height="450" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holes in the skull. On the top left, we have the prehistoric <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sea%20Turtle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sea turtle</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Protostega" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Protostega</span></a></i>, an anapsid, with no extra holes behind the eye socket. Below <i>Protostega</i>, we have <i>Prestosuchus</i>, a type of archosaur. Not only does <i>Prestosuchus</i> have the two holes in the skull behind the eye socket that characterize older diapsids, but it also has a third hole, in front of the eye socket, but behind the nose openings. On the bottom right, we have <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Edaphosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Edaphosaurus</span></a></i>, a primitive synapsid. The largest hole in the skull, furthest on the right, is what will one day become the hole that the coronoid process sneaks through, between the zygomatic arch and the rest of the skull. In the picture above <i>Edaphosaurus</i>, you can see what I'm talking about, with the extinct mammalian synapsid <i>Hyaenodon</i>. Here, you can see the little nub of the coronoid process between the zygomatic arch and the skull.</td></tr>
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As we talked about in that Latin/Greek post that I mentioned above, the name of the primitive, fin-backed synapsid <i>Dimetrodon</i> means "two measures of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Teeth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">teeth</span></a>," referring to the two different types of teeth this animal possesses. This is a feature known as "heterodonty," a term that means "different teeth." Most mammals are heterodonts, and most other animals like <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptiles</span></a> are not, but it doesn't always work that way. Modern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cetaceans" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">cetaceans</span></a> such as the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sperm%20Whale" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sperm whale</span></a>, as well as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Orca" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">orcas</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dolphin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dolphins</span></a>, are homodonts, meaning that they only have one type of tooth in their mouth. If you look at ancient ancestors of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Whale" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">whales</span></a>, such as <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Basilosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Basilosaurus</span></a></i> or <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Zygorhiza" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Zygorhiza</span></a></i>, you can see that they have different types of teeth in their mouth. This condition can be traced all the way back to 50 MY old <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pakicetus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pakicetus</span></a></i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlpaIM7ihmxYf8Fh_SH4It_qVaXSSMEwxwqK5RcK-Wcju45wjtEfKCqxLaRy2CqS2LRZ98iD6o9Ta_CFGMuLo5-wBoJRLangt_sEr6h53FYE91ZxtlIFGkH2yKlYIUzjUw6gR0cRgwA/s1600/Heterodont+Cetaceans+Including+Pakicetus+Zygorhiza+and+Orcinus+orca+Killer+Whale+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlpaIM7ihmxYf8Fh_SH4It_qVaXSSMEwxwqK5RcK-Wcju45wjtEfKCqxLaRy2CqS2LRZ98iD6o9Ta_CFGMuLo5-wBoJRLangt_sEr6h53FYE91ZxtlIFGkH2yKlYIUzjUw6gR0cRgwA/s1600/Heterodont+Cetaceans+Including+Pakicetus+Zygorhiza+and+Orcinus+orca+Killer+Whale+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.png" height="450" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trio of cetacean skulls. On the top left, we have <i>Pakicetus</i>, a terrestrial ancestor of the cetaceans, that lived in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pakistan" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pakistan</span></a> approximately 50 MYA. Below <i>Pakicetus</i>, we have <i>Zygorhiza</i>, a more derived and fully aquatic cetacean. In both <i>Pakicetus</i> and <i>Zygorhiza</i>, you can see how the front teeth and back teeth are different, with the front teeth more for gripping prey, and the back teeth perfect for slicing. On the right, you can see the skull of the modern killer whale, or orca, which has only one type of tooth in their mouth, the conical, gripping teeth.</td></tr>
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Then, of course, there are the heterodont reptiles and dinosaurs such as the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cretaceous</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crocodilian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crocodilian</span></a> <i>Malawisuchus</i>, and the dinosaurs <i><a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Heterodontosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Heterodontosaurus</span></a></i> (literally meaning "different-toothed lizard") and the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Oviraptors" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">oviraptorosaur</span></a> <i>Incisivosaurus</i>. We also talked about the primitive <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pterosaur</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dimorphodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dimorphodon</span></a></i> (two morphs of teeth) in the Latin/Greek post as well. If you look at the skulls of any of these animals, you can clearly see the different types of teeth in their mouth. Cynodonts were not merely an aberrant heterodont form amongst a vast sea of closely related homodonts, but instead were precursors to the default heterodont condition seen in mammals.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSb3TaN_wnJGvLVgkv-gNFdYO3ClxlR1_IKLRWxtZQXynJyXDbd4G6hyphenhyphenbW4vUgEheUiqaxquWPljaW1LvazUB6gix96Ra7tAges6W0lMzg5_JrzJXMNm49Plx-EghXqzUMNoFNjWVzw/s1600/Heterodontosaurus+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+New+York+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSb3TaN_wnJGvLVgkv-gNFdYO3ClxlR1_IKLRWxtZQXynJyXDbd4G6hyphenhyphenbW4vUgEheUiqaxquWPljaW1LvazUB6gix96Ra7tAges6W0lMzg5_JrzJXMNm49Plx-EghXqzUMNoFNjWVzw/s1600/Heterodontosaurus+at+the+American+Museum+of+Natural+History+in+New+York+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="365" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The skull of <i>Heterodontosaurus</i>, on display at the American Museum of Natural History in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">New York</span></a>. You can see the two different types of teeth in the skull, especially in the lower jaw.</td></tr>
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Works Cited:<br />
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Bottjer, D. J. (2002). <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=pxlv0KbjfO4C&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=gres+a+voltzia&source=bl&ots=MydrguWx-7&sig=-vRwAQ-ZrGGu2rjCJSNJqTUe38I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rnSkU6j0NbHo8AHSr4GgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CGEQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q&f=false"><span style="color: yellow;">Exceptional Fossil Preservation: A Unique View on the Evolution of Marine Life</span></a>. New York: Columbia University Press.<br />
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Braithwaite, C. J., & Zedef, V. Hydromagnesite Stromatolites and Sediments in an Alkaline Lake, Salda Golu, Turkey. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 66. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://jsedres.geoscienceworld.org/content/66/5/991.abstract<br />
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Carroll, R. L. (1988). Vertebrate paleontology and evolution. New York, N.Y.: W.H. Freeman and Company.<br />
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Fiorelli, Lucas E., Martín D. Ezcurra, E. Martín Hechenleitner, Eloisa Argañaraz, Jeremías R. A. Taborda, M. Jimena Trotteyn, M. Belén Von Baczko, and Julia B. Desojo. The oldest known communal latrines provide evidence of gregarism in Triassic megaherbivores. Scientific Reports. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131128/srep03348/full/srep03348.html#ref8<br />
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Hammer, WR., 1990: Thrinaxodon from Graphite Peak, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. Antarctic Journal of the United States, 255: 37-38<br />
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Lautenschlager, S., & Desojo, J. B. Reassessment of the Middle Triassic Rauisuchian Archosaurs Ticinosuchus ferox and Stagonosuchus nyassicus. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225706328_Reassessment_of_the_Middle_Triassic_rauisuchian_archosaurs_Ticinosuchus_ferox_and_Stagonosuchus_nyassicus<br />
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Mickelson, D. L. (2014, June 6). Triassic Tracks in the Moenkopi Formation. National Parks Service. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.nps.gov/care/naturescience/triassictrack.htm<br />
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Morales, M. Terrestrial Fauna and Flora from the Triassic Moenkopi Formation of the Southwestern United States. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 22. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40024380?uid=3739568&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104182410797<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J. Arizonasaurus and Its Implications for Archosaur Divergence. Biological Sciences, 270. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/270/Suppl_2/S234.abstract<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J. Osteology of the Middle Triassic Pseudosuchian Archosaur Arizonasaurus babbitti. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology, 17. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08912960500476499#.U6Ti2ZRdV1-<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J., Barrett, P. M., Werning, S., Sidor, C. A., & Charig, A. J. The Oldest Dinosaur? A Middle Triassic Dinosauriform from Tanzania. Biology Letters, 9. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/9/1/20120949.abstract<br />
<br />
Owen, D., & Pemberton, D. (2005). Tasmanian devil: a unique and threatened animal. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin.<br />
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Power, I. M., S. A. Wilson, G. M. Dipple, and G. Southam. Modern carbonate microbialites from an asbestos open pit pond, Yukon, Canada. Geobiology, 9. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1472-4669.2010.00265.x/abstract<br />
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Reptiles. (n.d.). Monte San Giorgio. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.montesangiorgio.org/en/Monte-San-Giorgio/I-fossili/I-rettili.html<br />
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Switek, B. (2008, April 1). Heterodonty where you least expect it. Laelaps. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2008/04/01/heterodont-archosaurs/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-75513397667064377872014-07-27T13:51:00.000-06:002014-09-10T13:32:25.459-06:00Osteoarthritis and Your Pets by Kathy Gagliardi, Guest Blogger<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i>Many of us have pets, and nearly all of them, at least at one point in their lives, will be affected by something that only a trained veterinarian can help with. But vets can't do it all themselves: they need you and I, the <strike>servants</strike> caretakers of the pets to be able to recognize something is wrong in the first place. I asked Dr. Kathy Gagliardi whether she would be interested in sending me an article that I could post on here, and she was kind enough to oblige! Here's a little bit about Dr. Gagliardi:</i></div>
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Dr Kathy Gagliardi is a veterinarian that works in Louisville, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a> at <a href="http://www.vcahospitals.com/centennial-valley" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">VCA Centennial Valley Animal Hospital</span></a> with small animals and exotic pets such as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snakes</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Lizard" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">lizards</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rabbit" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bunnies</span></a>, ferrets, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rat" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rats</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">birds</span></a>, etc.., She loves the variety of animals she gets to work with and the variety of people. Her favorite part of her job is the human animal bond and getting to help keep that strong. She graduated from CSU Vet School in 2010 and has traveled a lot since graduating. She has done a variety of work in rural areas like southeastern Colorado and remote places in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Africa</span></a>.<br />
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<i>Today, Dr. Gagliardi is going to be telling us a little bit about osteoarthritis, and what you can do to help out your beloved <strike>master</strike> pet! </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wtlgnIJnNXkCpb6lV6RL6IEVxkCt6jhcMBOt_HQpfEE9x3dJYofTIwWWB5w2OUs2d5EU5JW12TGSKjVg7A98ekBAQaKV_yZ20jW3RU7JdPKaCMX_g4-eUmL26OT38N7z1AqoqMeXSA/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wtlgnIJnNXkCpb6lV6RL6IEVxkCt6jhcMBOt_HQpfEE9x3dJYofTIwWWB5w2OUs2d5EU5JW12TGSKjVg7A98ekBAQaKV_yZ20jW3RU7JdPKaCMX_g4-eUmL26OT38N7z1AqoqMeXSA/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
Osteoarthritis is a painful disease that affects many people and affects many of our beloved animals. Knowing what to do and how to recognize this disease is very important because it is the most common cause of chronic pain in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dogs</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Feline" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">cats</span></a>. In the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/United%20States" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">United States</span></a> it is estimated that one out of five adult dogs suffer from arthritis. The definition of osteoarthritis is: progressive disease of inflammation and deterioration of the soft tissue, cartilage and bone in one or more joints. It is a chronic disease (develops over months to years) leading to pain and decreased mobility. The disease worsens as cartilage in the animal’s joint breaks down and friction between the bones causes pain. Inflammation in the joint also can cause abnormal bony growths on the joints and thickening of the surrounding soft tissue. <br />
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WHAT YOU CAN DO:<br />
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The first step in helping your pet is to recognize the signs of arthritis and tell your veterinarian. Ask yourself if you have noticed any of the following signs (be aware, the signs may not be present at all times): reluctance to climb stairs, difficulty jumping, stiffness after exercise, limping, difficulty rising, difficulty with positioning to eliminate, loss of appetite, and changes in behavior. Some animals are at greater risk for arthritis due to the following factors: being overweight, breed (a large or giant breed), previous joint injuries, and previously diagnosed elbow, knee, or hip dysplasia.<br />
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If you suspect your dog has arthritis, your veterinarian can do a physical exam on your pet to help determine the location. Also radiographs (X-rays) of the joints are often needed to confirm the diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been reached, there are many different treatment options that can be offered. Treatment options include: pain medications, diet, exercise, joint supplements, physical therapy sessions, and acupuncture. Medications that are commonly used to treat osteoarthritis include: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), joint supplements (like chondroitin and glucosamine), and pain medication like Tramadol. The chondro-protective joint medications like chondroitin and glucosamine are similar to those used in people however often have different doses or formulas so it is important to discuss the best one for your pet with your veterinarian. Alternative medicine is another great option for pets with osteoarthritis the benefits of physical therapy and acupuncture have proven to be an effective treatment in animals as well as people. Also being overweight and not exercising can make osteoarthritis worse so many pets treatment plan will also include diet and strict/set exercise routine.<br />
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The wide range of treatment options can often make it overwhelming for a pet’s guardian to decide what is best for there pet. Therefore it is best to discuss the options in detail with your veterinarian to develop a treatment plan that is right for your pet. Your veterinarian will let you know which treatment modalities would best suit your pet. <br />
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VCA Centennial Valley Animal Hospital is a full service veterinary hospital in Louisville, Colorado. We are accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We provide care for dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles and exotics. Our Services include Preventive Care, Laser Surgery, Digital X-Ray, In House Pharmacy, Full Dental Care, In House Laboratory, Hospitalization, Acupuncture/Herbs, and Pain management. Our Doctors and staff are compassionate, certified and friendly. <a href="http://www.cvah.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.cvah.com</span></a><br />
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<i>I would like to thank Dr. Gagliardi for helping us out and letting us know all about osteoarthritis. In the future, keep an eye out for a few more posts from Dr. Gagliardi! Thanks again, and we look forward to hearing from you again soon!</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-56119937694504629122014-07-12T15:43:00.001-06:002014-09-10T13:31:22.599-06:00Barely Skating By: You Better (Os)Prey That I Stop Trying to Force This Pun (Day 3, SC 2014)On our third day in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Carolina" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Carolina</span></a>, we played some games in the morning, but by about noon everyone else was exhausted and had to take a nap. I was not tired, so with a small-footed, friendly companion in my ear, I set out on a quest to find some more excitement! Compared to the events of the day before, I didn’t find much (which is good considering that the day before I had walked into a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Banana%20Spider" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">banana spider</span></a> web, and almost been bitten by a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Lone%20Star%20Tick" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">lone star tick</span></a>). I did find several creatures, though, including this small <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Green%20Anole" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">green anole</span></a> (<i>Anolis carolinensis</i>), pictured below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA693hlVntHXLvn6icpVeqdgUST5AMF6WSpvDELb8Q3VlmOVwsCx2-6_wdhijZ1FAcHrahCs-mmo2EemEUUh5JvWxvsNE1_bxJVkTs_HEMdNB2LQJMB57XI0VF-9FQdr2TmvA-xHuJMg/s1600/Carolina+Anole+Perched+on+a+Palm+Frond+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA693hlVntHXLvn6icpVeqdgUST5AMF6WSpvDELb8Q3VlmOVwsCx2-6_wdhijZ1FAcHrahCs-mmo2EemEUUh5JvWxvsNE1_bxJVkTs_HEMdNB2LQJMB57XI0VF-9FQdr2TmvA-xHuJMg/s1600/Carolina+Anole+Perched+on+a+Palm+Frond+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
I also got my first good look at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mississippi%20Kite" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Mississippi kite</span></a> (<i>Ictinia mississippiensis</i>). We don’t have many kites in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, with the Mississippi kite only occasionally in the state, and the swallow-tailed kite (<i>Elanoides forficatus</i>) a vagrant, so I don’t know as much about them as I do about some other raptor groups. Apparently, the Mississippi kite is primarily an insectivore, and only sometimes will kill prey such as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Frog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">frogs</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snakes</span></a>.<br />
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Now this next identification I am not terribly certain about. Here in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North America</span></a>, we actually have two types of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crow" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crow</span></a>. Most people are familiar with the American crow (<i>Corvus brachyrhynchos</i>), which lives all over the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/United%20States" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">United States</span></a>. However, we have a second type of crow, the fishing crow (<i>Corvus ossifragus</i>), native to the eastern United States. The fishing crow looks very similar to the American crow, and the best way to tell the two crows apart is to listen to their respective calls. The American crow has the well know “caw, caw” sound, while the fishing crow has a much more nasally cry. Some websites do list other, physical characteristics to distinguish between the two, but for the most part, it seems like auditory verification is the best way to go. I also seem to remember thinking to myself that this crow, as well as five or six others nearby, were making noises that I didn’t think sounded like a normal crow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4RMQ3miqh3j1kPt0CTVhM-sN_QLNiBhGQQX0C66lcwq7Yo1d3QtqsLn5DYDfDuaaiH2m4j19Cm0oElLg3fRmvVHAMZx7NJ4iQFpP4_oyOk_L3hoqMI1U7arlcgX3oury7TqD6wI2nw/s1600/Suspected+Fishing+Crow+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4RMQ3miqh3j1kPt0CTVhM-sN_QLNiBhGQQX0C66lcwq7Yo1d3QtqsLn5DYDfDuaaiH2m4j19Cm0oElLg3fRmvVHAMZx7NJ4iQFpP4_oyOk_L3hoqMI1U7arlcgX3oury7TqD6wI2nw/s1600/Suspected+Fishing+Crow+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
After my fun-filled walk, I arrived back at the Beckley’s house, where people were starting to wake up. Jim asked if we wanted to go out <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Alligator" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gator</span></a> hunting (I’d like to point out that when I talk about gator hunting I mean trying to find them to take pictures of them and get really excited and embarrass myself in front of the locals by making it abundantly obvious that I am, indeed, a tourist), and so my parents, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dani%20Neher" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sister</span></a>, Chris, Jim and I all prepared to head out. While we were waiting in the driveway for everyone to get ready, I noticed one of those eastern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Gray%20Squirrel" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gray squirrels</span></a> (<i>Sciurus carolinensis</i>) running around. They really shouldn’t be this exciting for me, but for some reason even they seem exotic. Just like our <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fox%20Squirrel" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fox squirrels</span></a> (<i>Sciurus niger</i>), the gray squirrel has very flexible ankles so that they can climb down trees headfirst, like you can see here.<br />
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We also saw a male northern cardinal (<i>Cardinalis cardinalis</i>) flitting around in the trees. This bird is <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sexual%20Dimorphism" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sexually dimorphic</span></a>, with the females mostly pale brown, with tinges of red. <br />
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As is always the case, we were never far from a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Banana%20Spider" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">banana spider</span></a> web. What was interesting about this particular web was Chris wasn’t really paying attention, and was spinning his iPod earbuds, and accidentally smacked one of the support lines of the spider web that was attached to a nearby clump of saw palmettos (<i>Serenoa repens</i>). Amazingly, it didn’t break: in fact, it barely even budged! It’s incredible how strong the tensile strength of this particular type of spider’s web is. We've talked about similar-looking spiders that inhabit the South <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pacific" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pacific</span></a> who also have incredibly strong webs, sometimes used by fisherman to catch <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fish</span></a>!<br />
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At last, everyone was assembled, and we headed out. As we drove, I noticed an <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Osprey" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">osprey</span></a> (<i>Pandion haliaetus</i>) sitting in a nest very close to the road. I made a note of it, and decided to check it out the next day. Below is a picture from the next day. This is a story for another day. Maybe the next day. Who even knows.<br />
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We arrived at the first potential gator pond, one where Jim, Chris, my dad and I had fished for a few minutes on our last visit two years ago. On that trip, I had spotted a gator <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Track%2FFootprint" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">track</span></a> on the bank, so we know that they were sometimes in there. But despite this, and despite a warning sign that graces the bank of nearly every pond close to human habitation in South Carolina, we saw no sign of a gator. <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Turtle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Turtles</span></a>, yes. This interesting looking fire <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ant" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ant</span></a> (<i>Solenopsis</i> sp.) hill, now abandoned? Interesting, yes, as were these orange mushrooms and little burrows dug out by some sort of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crab" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crab</span></a>. But no gators.<br />
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On our way to a second pond, we stopped at a small crab dock that people use for fishing, crabbing, and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Shrimp" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">shrimping</span></a>. We likely wouldn’t see any gators here, since it was a salty, brackish area. The alligators here prefer fresh water over brackish or salty water, although I suppose anything is possible. It was pretty quiet and peaceful. Looking out over the water, we could see a laughing <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Gull" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gull</span></a> (<i>Leucophaeus atricilla</i>) flying nearby, and a brown <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pelican" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pelican</span></a> (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>) taking off from the water across the Wando River.<br />
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Looking down between our feet, we could see why it was called a crabbing dock. Marsh crabs (<i>Sesarma reticulatum</i>) are all over the area, and we could see many of them hanging out on the wooden poles supporting the dock. Just beneath the surface of the water, we could also see a blue crab (<i>Callinectes sapidus</i>) hanging onto one of the supporting pillars.<br />
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Jim pulled up a few of the traps hanging off the side of the dock to show us what was going on inside. The first trap was a minnow trap, and inside were several mudminnows and finger mullets. The central mudminnow (<i>Umbra limi</i>) is a member of the mudminnow family, family Umbridae. Despite their name, mudminnows are not actually minnows, and are instead more closely related to the pikes in the family Escoidae. The two families together make up the order Escoiformes. Meanwhile, finger mullets seems to be a colloquial term that applies to any small member of the mullet family, family Mugilidae, although I'm not entirely sure how precise I am about this definition.<br />
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The other traps were for blue crabs, whose scientific name apparently translates to "savory beautiful swimmer." Blue crabs are omnivorous, and can find themselves prey to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Heron" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">herons</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sea%20Turtle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sea turtles</span></a>, and large fish. Inside one of the crab traps was a large portion of a bottomfeeding critter, like a ray or a skate. It was a little tough to identify, but I think that it might have been part of a clearnose skate (<i>Raja eglanteria</i>), a relative of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stingray" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">stingrays</span></a> and, more distantly, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Shark" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sharks</span></a>.<br />
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Just as we finished investigating the traps, one of us spotted something: a dorsal fin, slicing in and out of the water! It was a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bottlenose%20Dolphin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bottlenose dolphin</span></a> (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>), the first sighting of the trip! We watched for several minutes as it cruised by a few times. It looked like there was at least one other <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dolphin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dolphin</span></a> out there, which comes as no surprise considering their gregarious nature. Jim was telling us how he had seen a bottlenose dolphin actually send a wave of water and fish up onto a sand bank, and intentionally strand itself on the bank to snap up some fish, before sliding back into the water. This behavior has actually been filmed on the fantastic <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/BBC" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">BBC</span></a> program "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Planet%20Earth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Planet Earth</span></a>!" <br />
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After the excitement of the dock, it wasn’t even disappointing to not see anything at the third pond. Besides, we had many more days of gator-hunting filled vacation ahead of us! When we got back, we spotted a good-sized <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Skink" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">skink</span></a>, I believe a five-lined skink (<i>Plestiodon fasciatus</i>) hanging out on the wall above their garage.<br />
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That night, we decided to go to dinner at the Morgan Creek Grill. This is a double-decker restaurant, with a fancier side below, and a less fancy level on top, where we have eaten at the last two times we visited. With a very nice view overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, we’ve seen dolphins there in the past. As we waited outside for our table, I was able to get some nice pictures of some very exciting seabirds, including this juvenile gull. Lots of brown pelicans and laughing gulls were flying by as well, and several times we were able to watch as several gulls swooped and dove at each other, fighting over scraps of food. We also got to watch a group of laughing gulls diving at the water to catch fish, which was cool as well!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAcx3o3zK9JfD6HAVXUw3TqY7JOk8zqBpEUV7wQ1Hs31l0NOfYxohqo8_JFFYNcY84rwV7MQJC488XyKzVeTS8Pcr2-5OVNLh8FzVRlagg6py7j-Yvqn5BJ2eTy-VufNV2uI6p960_A/s1600/Unidentified+Immature+Seagull+Gull+Perched+on+a+Wooden+Pole+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAcx3o3zK9JfD6HAVXUw3TqY7JOk8zqBpEUV7wQ1Hs31l0NOfYxohqo8_JFFYNcY84rwV7MQJC488XyKzVeTS8Pcr2-5OVNLh8FzVRlagg6py7j-Yvqn5BJ2eTy-VufNV2uI6p960_A/s1600/Unidentified+Immature+Seagull+Gull+Perched+on+a+Wooden+Pole+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-t7Kr8ppTngB6GKSabuG-ZJzslDhmRjFfKTZnePcG_4GdTJ2SIivX92MAhdjGf3x0PGIfUdMboijFsYqLyqwylsyw_TWW5FJ5r-2KGsP77rGb9jmukXwF_8FEXK-68rtRQL_YRltHw/s1600/Brown+Pelican+Flying+by+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-t7Kr8ppTngB6GKSabuG-ZJzslDhmRjFfKTZnePcG_4GdTJ2SIivX92MAhdjGf3x0PGIfUdMboijFsYqLyqwylsyw_TWW5FJ5r-2KGsP77rGb9jmukXwF_8FEXK-68rtRQL_YRltHw/s1600/Brown+Pelican+Flying+by+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCZDoRSKYuoeQpUpqVDyx3k9W-StAY4UKCHT8HANkcisvwfioRjaV7FBlzg-TWoYv6xYl8zBW7PmuI3VTb-TDFhnNzIcyUC6ZhRBT7gvfHrP3ojLupJhiNN59mmklHoLWf4sWUtuXNg/s1600/Unidentified+Gulls+and+Laughing+Gulls+Duking+it+Out+Battling+Over+Food+Scraps+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCZDoRSKYuoeQpUpqVDyx3k9W-StAY4UKCHT8HANkcisvwfioRjaV7FBlzg-TWoYv6xYl8zBW7PmuI3VTb-TDFhnNzIcyUC6ZhRBT7gvfHrP3ojLupJhiNN59mmklHoLWf4sWUtuXNg/s1600/Unidentified+Gulls+and+Laughing+Gulls+Duking+it+Out+Battling+Over+Food+Scraps+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y7HGpZNn_RH98Ev-ItPpisi3WSchc_1GN5LbDp_usUKxGDBafotNmeRewQo7pJ3iAb0c_0gAHOzNQnFK7Nu37yZQ5a6CLj4EwwBK-Wq61m39FZNgTQs4FcY2V2v12rLe5wqrCAn9Zg/s1600/Unidentified+Gulls+and+Laughing+Gulls+Attacking+Each+Other+Over+Food+Scraps+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y7HGpZNn_RH98Ev-ItPpisi3WSchc_1GN5LbDp_usUKxGDBafotNmeRewQo7pJ3iAb0c_0gAHOzNQnFK7Nu37yZQ5a6CLj4EwwBK-Wq61m39FZNgTQs4FcY2V2v12rLe5wqrCAn9Zg/s1600/Unidentified+Gulls+and+Laughing+Gulls+Attacking+Each+Other+Over+Food+Scraps+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
As we ate, a cute <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dog</span></a> sailed by, manning the helm of the boat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4WWY0eYOYRL2ftHY2imeuCtfHXKi0mXUhcLUaY2ttSFeXHdY56NOnVR3fqAzQRRivy24XjA2OgHdq56rNfQiP8jdmOR8sBU_VqDgDyEjQjNI15_T9h0tKVH4lZoDwYJFHM4QuWSi0w/s1600/Cute+Dog+on+the+Prow+Bow+of+a+Small+Boat+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4WWY0eYOYRL2ftHY2imeuCtfHXKi0mXUhcLUaY2ttSFeXHdY56NOnVR3fqAzQRRivy24XjA2OgHdq56rNfQiP8jdmOR8sBU_VqDgDyEjQjNI15_T9h0tKVH4lZoDwYJFHM4QuWSi0w/s1600/Cute+Dog+on+the+Prow+Bow+of+a+Small+Boat+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
I don’t know if this was intentional or not, but this ship’s anchor looked a lot like a shark <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Teeth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tooth</span></a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg3hInEP5MSMehBpV3QBdh4n1lEQTOl1j_1Lx52HYOhmuQ9uKGpb-DYYacC0AKvXZxJEzQCL6rp0Fk4pT6XDDXYkYSftFpZ8gYVcjhB12SXsCe4w1SY0l2ZozOKh7thDJ2aZcpJ58Gw/s1600/Shark+Tooth+Shaped+Anchor+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg3hInEP5MSMehBpV3QBdh4n1lEQTOl1j_1Lx52HYOhmuQ9uKGpb-DYYacC0AKvXZxJEzQCL6rp0Fk4pT6XDDXYkYSftFpZ8gYVcjhB12SXsCe4w1SY0l2ZozOKh7thDJ2aZcpJ58Gw/s1600/Shark+Tooth+Shaped+Anchor+at+the+Meet+Me+at+the+Creek+Restaurant+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
So here we have the new and improved, updated faunal list after Day Three:<br />
<br />
Amphibians:<br />
<br />
American Toad (<i>Anaxyurus americanus</i>)<br />
Green Tree Frog (<i>Hyla cinerea</i>)<br />
Southern Leopard Frog (<i>Lithobates sphenocephalus</i>)<br />
<br />
Birds:<br />
<br />
American Crow (<i>Corvus brachyrhynchos</i>)<br />
Anhinga (<i>Anhinga anhinga</i>)<br />
Black Vulture (<i>Coragyps atratus</i>)<br />
Brown Pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>)<br />
Carolina Wren (<i>Thryothorus ludovicianus</i>)<br />
Fishing Crow (<i>Corvus ossifragus</i>)<br />
Great Blue Heron (<i>Ardea herodias</i>)<br />
Great Egret (<i>Ardea alba</i>)<br />
House Sparrow (<i>Passer domesticus</i>)<br />
Laughing Gull (<i>Leucophaeus atricilla</i>)<br />
Mississippi Kite (<i>Ictinia mississippiensis</i>)<br />
Northern Cardinal (<i>Cardinalis cardinalis</i>)<br />
Osprey (<i>Pandion haliaetus</i>)<br />
Red-Winged Blackbird (<i>Agelaius phoeniceus</i>)<br />
Reddish Egret (<i>Egretta rufescens</i>)<br />
Turkey Vulture (<i>Cathartes aura</i>)<br />
<br />
Fish:<br />
<br />
Central Mudminnow (<i>Umbra limi</i>)<br />
Clearnose Skate (<i>Raja eglanteria</i>)<br />
Mullet (Family: Mugilidae)<br />
<br />
Invertebrates:<br />
<br />
American Cockroach (<i>Periplaneta americana</i>)<br />
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (<i>Limulus polyphemus</i>)<br />
Banana Spider (<i>Nephila</i> sp.)<br />
Blue Crab (<i>Callinectes sapidus</i>)<br />
Fire Ant (<i>Solenopsis</i> sp.)<br />
Lone Star Tick (<i>Amblyomma americanum</i>)<br />
Marsh Crab (<i>Sesarma reticulatum</i>)<br />
Mosquito (Family: Culicidae)<br />
Squareback Marsh Crab (<i>Armases cinereum</i>)<br />
Wolf Spider (Family: Lycosidae)<br />
<br />
Mammals:<br />
<br />
Bottlenose Dolphin (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>)<br />
Eastern Gray Squirrel (<i>Sciurus carolinensis</i>)<br />
Raccoon (<i>Procyon lotor</i>)<br />
White Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>)<br />
<br />
Plants:<br />
<br />
Saw Palmetto (<i>Serenoa repens</i>)<br />
Trumpet Creeper (<i>Campsis radicans</i>)<br />
<br />
Reptiles:<br />
<br />
American Alligator (<i>Alligator mississippiensis</i>)<br />
Five-Lined Skink (<i>Plestiodon fasciatus</i>)<br />
Green Anole (<i>Anolis carolinensis</i>)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 10px; padding: 0; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/3359/South-Carolina/Charleston/Isle-of-Palms/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/3359.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Isle of Palms on Dwellable</a></div>
Works Cited:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Blue Crabs. (n.d.). SCDNR. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/pub/seascience/bluecrab.html<br />
<br />
Chesapeake Bay Program. (n.d.). Bay Blog RSS. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/critter/blue_crab<br />
<br />
Fish Crow ID. (n.d.). Fish Crow ID. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/FishCrow.htm<br />
<br />
Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis. (n.d.). Mississippi Kite. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from http://birds.audubon.org/birds/mississippi-kite<br />
<br />
Mudminnows - National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Mudminnows - National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/mudminnows.aspx<br />
<br />
Northern Cardinal. (n.d.). , Identification, All About Birds. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/id</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-76232327944827321402014-07-10T19:51:00.000-06:002015-04-25T15:38:52.793-06:00Critter Huntin' With Chris (Day 2, SC 2014)On the morning of our second day in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Carolina" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Carolina</span></a>, we visited the farmer's market, and then the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College of Charleston. The museum was incredible, especially for a small college museum, and they had so much cool stuff that I am in the process of writing a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Top%20Ten" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Top Ten</span></a> post just about the museum. We will also feature lots of the pictures that I took there in future posts, as a lot of the fossils that they had there are animals that have popped up on the blog, and will likely continue to do so. Now, though, I'm sure you all are being eaten up from the inside with questions. "What did you do for the rest of the day, Zack, after you returned from the museum? I'm sure it was something fascinating, no doubt!" No doubt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKs_b41vd2XqCTpzXeF4QySLoqpfY0gzk4PZa6-vQlQDZ30IoPyFgSSOq8w9XDxTtE0ZRmTiBfIyRSdDAx46dxOTBNLfLW0wVoNsKgUHNjbAYMgmhPgj6VgtWiCpBtd8JRdRNMYuYTg/s1600/Caution+Alligators+May+Be+Present+on+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+1+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKs_b41vd2XqCTpzXeF4QySLoqpfY0gzk4PZa6-vQlQDZ30IoPyFgSSOq8w9XDxTtE0ZRmTiBfIyRSdDAx46dxOTBNLfLW0wVoNsKgUHNjbAYMgmhPgj6VgtWiCpBtd8JRdRNMYuYTg/s1600/Caution+Alligators+May+Be+Present+on+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+1+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
When we got back, Chris and I decided to go out critter hunting. The Beckley's live next to a golf course with several small ponds fairly close by, and we decided to look into two of the closest ponds to see if we could find any <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Alligator" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gators</span></a> (<i>Alligator mississippiensis</i>) or cottonmouth moccasins (<i>Agkistrodon piscivorous</i>)! In the first pond, we startled an anhinga (<i>Anhinga anhinga</i>), and it flew up into the trees. The anhinga is a type of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cormorant" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">cormorant</span></a>-like bird, and spends most of its days either swimming through freshwater in search of tasty <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fish</span></a>, or sunning itself and preening on the bank. They are not only very good at swimming underwater due to a reduced buoyancy created by heavy bones and wet feathers, but they are also very good at soaring and riding the thermals, similar in fashion to certain types of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird%20of%20Prey" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">raptors</span></a>. Turns out, I would be seeing more of this interesting <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bird</span></a> on our trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2zyOCx_JoYZCU23fGnjc029OkaiggoSzHE0eHH5sXj_BgzqRMh9lvnowXhDuLf5LKkaBcLY2WfcGs3m-PB16grVXoZ0PGIYvgJo6pzgBTBjp3rQxkzogYedUhONjL8i4q_RyZcpsdA/s1600/Anhinga+Cormorant+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2zyOCx_JoYZCU23fGnjc029OkaiggoSzHE0eHH5sXj_BgzqRMh9lvnowXhDuLf5LKkaBcLY2WfcGs3m-PB16grVXoZ0PGIYvgJo6pzgBTBjp3rQxkzogYedUhONjL8i4q_RyZcpsdA/s1600/Anhinga+Cormorant+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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In <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, it is not altogether uncommon to spot a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Great%20Blue%20Heron" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">great blue heron</span></a> (<i>Ardea herodius</i>) hunting along the banks of a pond or lake, or flying overhead with their impressively elongate neck drawn back in a tight s-curve, reminiscent of certain types of theropod <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaurs</span></a> (such as <i>Compsognathus</i>, pictured below). However, in South Carolina, you can hardly go anywhere without seeing a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Heron" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">heron</span></a>, be it a great blue heron, an egret, or some other type of heron. Right after spotting the anhinga, we noticed a great blue heron on the opposite bank. In the picture below you can see the usually majestic bird caught in the not-so-majestic act of shaking itself dry.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFI8KojkYwYZXiqqM_1tP_yqIbaZg4BNTGHU9maO6ZPJShonQnbVpQj9hBi5SBHulcXKsLU6HoDoAwkShtF4UUaa4l_ko-2uPK4hkTa-MeQhzDsxNlEAtrWBJhVdOb44QZUST2mE96oA/s1600/Great+Blue+Heron+Shaking+Itself+Off+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFI8KojkYwYZXiqqM_1tP_yqIbaZg4BNTGHU9maO6ZPJShonQnbVpQj9hBi5SBHulcXKsLU6HoDoAwkShtF4UUaa4l_ko-2uPK4hkTa-MeQhzDsxNlEAtrWBJhVdOb44QZUST2mE96oA/s1600/Great+Blue+Heron+Shaking+Itself+Off+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivArjdqOveep3sJIe1n7yLjF74PTU4ZAzrm0hyphenhyphenIo0aWcLkwD1eg7_xx-wiY5ltF1-GqzFFm39JWqB_tkTLYDinfJ4eWVkigpFRqFZYir-8W2Dks_fl4pcBInKL43BjK6ZMNpV7xd0_9A/s1600/Compsognathus+Specimen+Cast+from+the+Solnhofen+Limestone+Quarries+in+Germany+Cast+in+the+Collections+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivArjdqOveep3sJIe1n7yLjF74PTU4ZAzrm0hyphenhyphenIo0aWcLkwD1eg7_xx-wiY5ltF1-GqzFFm39JWqB_tkTLYDinfJ4eWVkigpFRqFZYir-8W2Dks_fl4pcBInKL43BjK6ZMNpV7xd0_9A/s1600/Compsognathus+Specimen+Cast+from+the+Solnhofen+Limestone+Quarries+in+Germany+Cast+in+the+Collections+of+the+Morrison+Natural+History+Museum+in+Morrison+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="400" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of a first generation cast of <i>Compsognathus</i> from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Solnhofen" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Solnhofen Quarry</span></a> of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Germany" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Germany</span></a>. Although this animal almost certainly lived a very different lifestyle than the anhinga, it is interesting to compare the necks of these two animals. You can also compare the anhinga's neck with the neck of another theropod dinosaur <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Coelophysis" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Coelophysis</span></a></i> (who has a neck more similar to a heron's than that of <i>Compsognathus</i>) by clicking <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2013/01/animal-of-day-coelophysis.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a> to check out a short feature we did on this dinosaur awhile back. This cast is a first generation cast in the collections of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>.</td></tr>
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As we went around the pond, I got an opportunity to take a shot from much closer. Check out how long that neck is!! It always makes me think of other, extinct animals that are thought to be <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Piscivore" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">piscivorous</span></a>, or fish eating. The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Protorosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">protorosaur</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptile</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tanystropheus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tanystropheus</span></a></i>, the long-necked <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Plesiosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">plesiosaurs</span></a> and nothosaurs, and many types of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pterosaurs</span></a> are all thought to be primarily piscivorous, based on studies of their dentition, anatomy, depositional environment, etc. The long neck seen in many of these animals seems to be pretty similar to the long neck that I see in the great blue heron, which is a pretty good design for catching fish. If you are trying to sneak up on something, the less of you the animal can see, the better!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzbZ6WvZ3AdF8Si2LmEH_tydKPz2c1SMhE944eveT-7u3zp_s_pz69XmcwEjvQ0c9MBGD05wORoMbIe9QkLFD-NTLRliDbqRz0V-EG3zwuIlhmh8VdlnWv93mcx0crSwKfPzoX9ybsw/s1600/Great+Blue+Heron+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzbZ6WvZ3AdF8Si2LmEH_tydKPz2c1SMhE944eveT-7u3zp_s_pz69XmcwEjvQ0c9MBGD05wORoMbIe9QkLFD-NTLRliDbqRz0V-EG3zwuIlhmh8VdlnWv93mcx0crSwKfPzoX9ybsw/s1600/Great+Blue+Heron+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQ0h5FeoWHXLj81DZdTkapcpWYG8JF2zE8isTkQIsPkOLs2RqApBQv0nt5-sEYigWkw78wJ85_P1m-YF2yub395HdpK0MgFvqZpj84epRuM3PMPOmGqGXsuvMBb88VKLqWklgL8ZF4Q/s1600/Tanystropheus+the+Protorosaur+Reptile+Drawn+by+Sam+Lippincott+Photo+Credit+Sam+Lippincott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQ0h5FeoWHXLj81DZdTkapcpWYG8JF2zE8isTkQIsPkOLs2RqApBQv0nt5-sEYigWkw78wJ85_P1m-YF2yub395HdpK0MgFvqZpj84epRuM3PMPOmGqGXsuvMBb88VKLqWklgL8ZF4Q/s1600/Tanystropheus+the+Protorosaur+Reptile+Drawn+by+Sam+Lippincott+Photo+Credit+Sam+Lippincott.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The protorosaur <i>Tanystropheus</i>. Photo Credit: <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sam%20Lippincott" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Sam Lippincott</span></a></td></tr>
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Inevitably, we got a little too close to the great blue heron, and it took off for the far side of the pond. As it was flying away, almost out of sight, it got dive-bombed by a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Red-Winged%20Blackbird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">red-winged blackbird</span></a> (<i>Agelaius phoeniceus</i>)! I thought that was kind of interesting. It's relatively common place to see smaller birds attacking larger predatory birds like <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hawk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hawks</span></a> or <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Eagle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">eagles</span></a>, who potentially might bring them harm. Apparently, great blues will also eat other birds, but I suspect that would be more of an opportunistic feeding opportunity, and not something the heron would purposely go out with the intention of catching.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3iaemTgoDTMRmokzfN6oGytzHNbOEyQ5Fr6plpR2InR7H_v4qMtlfP7iK_W1MQ08M5Linww3TLPzPXCh4RVP5G_QouCH8ZYHmkbn0wcLju4kttitR4ZocGBs4wDgF2XUWMglrY4WRw/s1600/Great+Blue+Heron+Being+Attacked+by+a+Red+Winged+Blackbird+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3iaemTgoDTMRmokzfN6oGytzHNbOEyQ5Fr6plpR2InR7H_v4qMtlfP7iK_W1MQ08M5Linww3TLPzPXCh4RVP5G_QouCH8ZYHmkbn0wcLju4kttitR4ZocGBs4wDgF2XUWMglrY4WRw/s1600/Great+Blue+Heron+Being+Attacked+by+a+Red+Winged+Blackbird+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
As we continued our search, two more members of the heron family (family Ardeidae) graced us with their presence, the reddish egret (<i>Egretta rufescens</i>) and the great egret (<i>Ardea alba</i>). I'd also like to point out that the egrets aren't really a natural grouping of birds, and is simply just one name, like heron, that is frequently attached to different members of the heron family, family Ardeidae. For example, both the great blue heron and the great egret are in the same genus, the genus <i>Ardea</i>, while other herons and egrets are in different genera. Kind of like how <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Frog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">frogs</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Toad" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">toads</span></a> are all in the same family, the family Anura, but toads are generally characterized as having dry skin, while frogs are characterized as having wet skin. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqbt-NTOT_DOEr0UFPb-i9tOAaR4_4bS_zefwNMEgM35lPWv4ccH12p84gXkd_FKRJBJaMH5DLABHakf31zrBCKLt9Tb0VDjyiS2eHOf1DtjR1LZWd6KYXHFf00UwmlNmkiXyiq1GLQ/s1600/Reddish+Egret+Flying+in+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqbt-NTOT_DOEr0UFPb-i9tOAaR4_4bS_zefwNMEgM35lPWv4ccH12p84gXkd_FKRJBJaMH5DLABHakf31zrBCKLt9Tb0VDjyiS2eHOf1DtjR1LZWd6KYXHFf00UwmlNmkiXyiq1GLQ/s1600/Reddish+Egret+Flying+in+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reddish egret. It's a little tough to see, but the bird is flying roughly in the middle of the photograph, a little more on the left hand side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OmzS7-sGpCsAsRwkRqNfmeWOME_WKFNkdjZlvD7iob9PvyrWENFEB8EXtK79mfb459fdHZca31j0TxWFIlpD9w1FTYcpcXXwOZik4o-U-1geZOTwNufy8jKG73xgjKKUonpik0rMgg/s1600/Great+Egret+Flying+Over+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OmzS7-sGpCsAsRwkRqNfmeWOME_WKFNkdjZlvD7iob9PvyrWENFEB8EXtK79mfb459fdHZca31j0TxWFIlpD9w1FTYcpcXXwOZik4o-U-1geZOTwNufy8jKG73xgjKKUonpik0rMgg/s1600/Great+Egret+Flying+Over+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The great egret. It's a little tough to see, but the bird is flying a little below the middle of the photograph, and a tiny but further to the right of center.</td></tr>
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With nothing but birds and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Turtle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">turtles</span></a> in the first pond, Chris and I headed over to the second. The second pond was much more secluded, surrounded by more trees and bushes. We couldn't really see anything in their either, but we skirted around the edge of the pond through the trees. Suddenly, Chris spotted some bones a few feet to the right of us. He had spotted the skeleton of South Carolina's state animal, and only resident species of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Deer" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">deer</span></a>, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)! This deer is actually the state animal of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Illinois" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Illinois</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pennsylvania" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pennsylvania</span></a> as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGXYGmsdg1myZ27K6sCtfXjKs76LWVEdruvnv4NgAdrgyv_kBvEqhTj-4Wa2YYzf-GpONfeuTYk5x9rFiAPmIIov0fmQbJo27WDlkLI14WHJNS1e85Cl7-Vg73hJoOuRmcRQpqNDp_Q/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skeleton+Rib+Cage+Neck+and+Skull+Articulated+With+Beer+Can+for+Scale+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGXYGmsdg1myZ27K6sCtfXjKs76LWVEdruvnv4NgAdrgyv_kBvEqhTj-4Wa2YYzf-GpONfeuTYk5x9rFiAPmIIov0fmQbJo27WDlkLI14WHJNS1e85Cl7-Vg73hJoOuRmcRQpqNDp_Q/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skeleton+Rib+Cage+Neck+and+Skull+Articulated+With+Beer+Can+for+Scale+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGMojE4sXsF9eTcC3Ps-wYaN6LkH6VDdUv5oLwaF8tBtgX1ZCw78-zG3wuV8vh12n-azj8L-MlBt7kgVDW8Ws-2Q_NG_kg3xEmZlKmcN7UQUFHHkZt8uKxIS8yMirZK62BMcTrTLCyw/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skeleton+Articulated+in+Two+Parts+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGMojE4sXsF9eTcC3Ps-wYaN6LkH6VDdUv5oLwaF8tBtgX1ZCw78-zG3wuV8vh12n-azj8L-MlBt7kgVDW8Ws-2Q_NG_kg3xEmZlKmcN7UQUFHHkZt8uKxIS8yMirZK62BMcTrTLCyw/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skeleton+Articulated+in+Two+Parts+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
I'm definitely not an authority on such matters, but the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Teeth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">teeth</span></a> looked really sharp and not very worn down, so I was thinking maybe it was a younger animal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHyKzXPaY9ojUozAzccSdxwa27aWAHj8xuahQAnyHb8bWX7R1O1logixjjAyIj5JaZNZdGcp7kJiVhECU22ofiZ52rG0qGxJIox-T0rIr6Cc4woCLr_UF7ilgmU0nNaM_KcJV16o9pg/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skull+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHyKzXPaY9ojUozAzccSdxwa27aWAHj8xuahQAnyHb8bWX7R1O1logixjjAyIj5JaZNZdGcp7kJiVhECU22ofiZ52rG0qGxJIox-T0rIr6Cc4woCLr_UF7ilgmU0nNaM_KcJV16o9pg/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skull+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
The skeleton was pretty well articulated, with the front legs being the only major part of the body that was missing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_xO3OprSW1XsyKRMP3dTpUvwo-fQUXDPqgXnNjfo5rlp6VBwbB-vedGfzFjdn6FxavQYzJvQHlwStJEFUGPxVB16W0zmwDnU9WljDLmrrmRawLVYW87oqP0sYrjlP9nJMNhYAMpMbg/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skeleton+Back+Half+of+Rib+Cage%252C+Pelvis%252C+and+Hind+Limbs+Articulated+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_xO3OprSW1XsyKRMP3dTpUvwo-fQUXDPqgXnNjfo5rlp6VBwbB-vedGfzFjdn6FxavQYzJvQHlwStJEFUGPxVB16W0zmwDnU9WljDLmrrmRawLVYW87oqP0sYrjlP9nJMNhYAMpMbg/s1600/White+Tailed+Deer+Skeleton+Back+Half+of+Rib+Cage%252C+Pelvis%252C+and+Hind+Limbs+Articulated+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
We moved on from the deer skeleton, and I promptly walked into a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Spider" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">spider</span></a> web. Now, the thing about the spiders in South Carolina is that some of them grow nasty-big, and seem to have a propensity to spin their webs in between hip and head height for your average adult human. I'm specifically talking about the banana spiders (<i>Nephila</i> sp.), or golden silk orb-weavers. I'm not entirely sure how large the biggest banana spiders get, but I've seen ones that look like they have a leg span of three to four inches. Disgusting. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iTVJXLCzHGWv5oxw1ov_4Mxq2uKoMPEjX1_cSRc3v01VHbuPr3cQVXclE3iNtlnLeLdNmXPQ-iwRivxKym6zmLSVKqUup3mSuF6fZRW0_R2S3RVDr592sm2GECZU9f-WswMSUMo_LA/s1600/Banana+Spider+With+Strand+of+Webbing+on+a+Leaf+That+Was+Crawling+on+my+Crotch+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iTVJXLCzHGWv5oxw1ov_4Mxq2uKoMPEjX1_cSRc3v01VHbuPr3cQVXclE3iNtlnLeLdNmXPQ-iwRivxKym6zmLSVKqUup3mSuF6fZRW0_R2S3RVDr592sm2GECZU9f-WswMSUMo_LA/s1600/Banana+Spider+With+Strand+of+Webbing+on+a+Leaf+That+Was+Crawling+on+my+Crotch+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Anyways, the one I walked into had spun a web at hip height. Despite the fact that the web was between two ferns, I did not find the situation to be amusing in the slightest. For a second, I thought I was going to be alright, and that maybe I had walked through a web without a spider in it. But of course this was not the case, otherwise I would not be weaving you the tale of woe, much like this particular banana spider wove it's irritating web at hip height right in my path. The spider started to stir, and crawl towards my crotch, which is one of the top two places that I don't want a spider to be, right after in my face holes. I started moving my right hand, still holding my camera, away from my body to try and grab a stick to get it the heck off of me, when the spider started crawling up a line of web that it had somehow attached to my camera. As I continually called out pitifully to Chris for help (he was probably laughing to hard at me to come and help even if he wanted to), the spider continually crawled toward my camera, which was in my hand, strung around my neck, and also several hundred dollars. Too expensive to drop. Right before the spider reached the camera, I was able to brush it off onto a nearby leaf. Then, my desire to get a picture of the disgusting little arachnid overrode my other desire to get the heck out of there, so I was able to snap the picture that you can see above you. Now you can understand the terror that I had to go through to get that picture. Enjoy it. Please.<br />
<br />
Before we got out of the woods, I found a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Raccoon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">raccoon</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Skull" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">skull</span></a> with both jaws nearby, as well as some other isolated bones. I saved the skull, and hopefully I can remember to upload a picture later! Raccoons are omnivorous, so they have fun teeth, an interesting combination of carnivorous and herbivorous dentition.<br />
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We also found a pair of what definitely looked like burrows. We found lots of bones in the vicinity of the burrows, clearly from different animals, so I think it likely that they were created by a more carnivorous critter, likely a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fox" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fox</span></a>. <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Gray%20Fox" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Gray foxes</span></a> (<i>Urocyon cinereoargenteus</i>) not only climb trees, but also don't seem to burrow under the ground, unlike the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Red%20Fox" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">red fox</span></a> (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>), so if it is a little carnivorous mammal burrow, I think that the red fox is a good guess as to the den maker!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49JpKlf-4s-Gie6aLTgtV0umrfSdlk2HNbAU2vsHUrVRVurQe3rsC6vXHpjwL5lPpoD80NpyfP5AxDvxhBdSc03i3ksNCCDrAiMR97lNjrdwP73zwYr3TimUyKAmYpeWkzT2fiNbc_A/s1600/Two+Burrows+of+Something+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49JpKlf-4s-Gie6aLTgtV0umrfSdlk2HNbAU2vsHUrVRVurQe3rsC6vXHpjwL5lPpoD80NpyfP5AxDvxhBdSc03i3ksNCCDrAiMR97lNjrdwP73zwYr3TimUyKAmYpeWkzT2fiNbc_A/s1600/Two+Burrows+of+Something+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Chris also spotted a small crushed turtle shell which I also collected, and hopefully I will remember to upload a picture of that specimen, too!<br />
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On our way back to the house, I noticed an interesting flower that I later identified as the trumpet creeper (<i>Campsis radicans</i>) which, according to the USDA, can cause itching, redness, and swelling amongst <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammals</span></a> if the leaves and flowers are touched. Well, later on, I picked up a flower, and did not find that to be the case. Perhaps I didn't touch it enough, or maybe different people experience different reactions. I thought they were interesting because I noticed that the long, tubular flowers might be a perfect example of a type of flower that has <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Coevolution" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">coevolved</span></a> (learn about coevolution <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2014/05/thorny-trees-and-20-inch-tongues-case.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>) with <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hummingbird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hummingbirds</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Butterfly" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">butterflies</span></a>, pollinators with the means of reaching nectar from deeper within a flower, and it looks like that might indeed be the case! Interestingly, for the first half of the trip, I don't remember hearing or seeing a single hummingbird...odd. The trumpet creeper is a member of the <i>Bignonia</i> family, the family Bignoniaceae. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfi0v9yxgLDzgmlajXyeEMPI_Vhz_kSDtRivk5R6LF0gPsrIW08OggZpbjVmGTPU178iHCtYqcgc9FCwih8njooHZuYaN9VOFR7rVgNp_yGg6sYbaG5CRnUsatzz-E7IDiLvIRaVo9g/s1600/Interesting+Red+Flowers+Trumpet+Creeper+Attractive+for+Hummingbirds+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfi0v9yxgLDzgmlajXyeEMPI_Vhz_kSDtRivk5R6LF0gPsrIW08OggZpbjVmGTPU178iHCtYqcgc9FCwih8njooHZuYaN9VOFR7rVgNp_yGg6sYbaG5CRnUsatzz-E7IDiLvIRaVo9g/s1600/Interesting+Red+Flowers+Trumpet+Creeper+Attractive+for+Hummingbirds+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
After we returned to the house, I thought the excitement was temporarily over. That turned out not to be the case, as I promptly realized my right leg was under an attack from a small arachnid: a tick. Ticks, spiders, scorpions, and solfugids (amongst others) are all members of the class Arachnida. I believe that the tick I had on my was an adult female lone star tick (<i>Amblyomma americanum</i>). The adult female is the only one with the little white dot on her back, which was something that my tick had. Again, disgusting. Fortunately, I was able to brush the little bloodsucker off my leg before he could bite. Jean Ann, Mary Sullivan and I then tried to kill it with our shoes, my laptop, Honey's dog bowl, and Kleenex, but nothing worked. I eventually just crumpled it up as best I could in several Kleenex, and then shoved it in the trash. Ticks are tough to kill, they seem pretty well armored, and they are pretty flat, too, which makes them tough to even brush off.<br />
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After a few hours of downtime, we went down to the beach as the sun set. Didn't see much, except part of a molted <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Horseshoe%20Crab" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">horseshoe crab</span></a> shell, the Atlantic horseshoe crab (<i>Limulus polyphemus</i>). Once they reach adulthood, horseshoe crabs shed their shells annually, usually in July or August. Arthropods shed their shells, or exoskeletons, as they grow larger, kind of like how <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snakes</span></a> will shed their skin as they grow larger. Turns out, I would also be seeing a whole lot more of these later on, too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlG2pnCLoCiw2xUa-uIu9Yj_mRXwdtpGmXibKfnzin1D3q2li56kKeyvrlukN0Ztrtc1sEoKbJO8cCjI9PbQlfkLDxQzPr-xvRGF6M_IRVwTsF58VRxZMI6hmSJBCG8g7R5aePHmdEQ/s1600/Partial+Fragment+of+a+Horseshoe+Crab+Molted+Shell+on+the+Beach+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlG2pnCLoCiw2xUa-uIu9Yj_mRXwdtpGmXibKfnzin1D3q2li56kKeyvrlukN0Ztrtc1sEoKbJO8cCjI9PbQlfkLDxQzPr-xvRGF6M_IRVwTsF58VRxZMI6hmSJBCG8g7R5aePHmdEQ/s1600/Partial+Fragment+of+a+Horseshoe+Crab+Molted+Shell+on+the+Beach+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
After we got back from the beach, my <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mark%20Neher" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">father</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dani%20Neher" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sister</span></a> and I all went gator hunting. This was to be our first gator sighting of the trip, although we really couldn't see much. The small reddish dot in the photograph below is actually the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Eyeshine" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">eyeshine</span></a> of the gator, created by the reflective <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tapetum%20Lucidum" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tapetum lucidum</span></a> (read more about that interesting bit of eye anatomy by clicking <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2012/07/eye-shinewhat-is-it.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>). So we really couldn't see much unfortunately.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgcaWw_kleGRkJcIVh4EdMOIREMACQcUjRdma_XAn5FDyTuOPasEZoOsYyXqU_zDJlawSRYP8uOKSFnfqoAgxPdx7E9Dqkd_lPIavDkau2G94yPKIPHPniKj5notf1nEgL-O1R_Pn0Q/s1600/Alligator+in+the+Pond+on+the+Golf+Course+With+Its+Eye+Reflecting+Eye+Shine+at+Night+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgcaWw_kleGRkJcIVh4EdMOIREMACQcUjRdma_XAn5FDyTuOPasEZoOsYyXqU_zDJlawSRYP8uOKSFnfqoAgxPdx7E9Dqkd_lPIavDkau2G94yPKIPHPniKj5notf1nEgL-O1R_Pn0Q/s1600/Alligator+in+the+Pond+on+the+Golf+Course+With+Its+Eye+Reflecting+Eye+Shine+at+Night+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
We also saw another <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/American%20Toad" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">American toad</span></a> (<i>Anaxyurus americanus</i>), possibly the same one that I spotted the previous night! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0zXWZiDV6Jhzpg_jd8XcCEJxJKajOxWYfgv6DhhdYKzjZ34CLlOip74_DkZQ055XcIayEakqoVFuLcGyMIW_fIBqjNTZCKlP8dHPvDji9g6KccLMb1va_Xq2yywqChv9TYFuQQryCg/s1600/American+Toad+on+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0zXWZiDV6Jhzpg_jd8XcCEJxJKajOxWYfgv6DhhdYKzjZ34CLlOip74_DkZQ055XcIayEakqoVFuLcGyMIW_fIBqjNTZCKlP8dHPvDji9g6KccLMb1va_Xq2yywqChv9TYFuQQryCg/s1600/American+Toad+on+the+Golf+Course+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
So as of the second day, here's a faunal list of the animals that I've spotted and identified thus far. I haven't identified really any of the plants, so I will just include plants that I've included on the blog. Some of the animals on the list I didn't blog about, usually because I didn't get good pictures.<br />
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Amphibians:<br />
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American Toad (<i>Anaxyurus americanus</i>)<br />
Green Tree Frog (<i>Hyla cinerea</i>)<br />
Southern Leopard Frog (<i>Lithobates sphenocephalus</i>)<br />
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Birds:<br />
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Anhinga (<i>Anhinga anhinga</i>)<br />
Carolina Wren (<i>Thryothorus ludovicianus</i>)<br />
Great Blue Heron (<i>Ardea herodias</i>)<br />
Great Egret (<i>Ardea alba</i>)<br />
Mississippi Kite (<i>Ictinia mississippiensis</i>)<br />
Northern Cardinal (<i>Cardinalis cardinalis</i>)<br />
Osprey (<i>Pandion haliaetus</i>)<br />
Red-Winged Blackbird (<i>Agelaius phoeniceus</i>)<br />
Reddish Egret (<i>Egretta rufescens</i>)<br />
Turkey Vulture (<i>Cathartes aura</i>)<br />
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Invertebrates:<br />
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American Cockroach (<i>Periplaneta americana</i>)<br />
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (<i>Limulus polyphemus</i>)<br />
Banana Spider (<i>Nephila</i> sp.)<br />
Lone Star Tick (<i>Amblyomma americanum</i>)<br />
Squareback Marsh Crab (<i>Armases cinereum</i>)<br />
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Mammals:<br />
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Eastern Gray Squirrel (<i>Sciurus carolinensis</i>)<br />
Raccoon (<i>Procyon lotor</i>)<br />
White Tailed Deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>)<br />
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Plants:<br />
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Trumpet Creeper (<i>Campsis radicans</i>)<br />
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Reptiles:<br />
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American Alligator (<i>Alligator mississippiensis</i>)<br />
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<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 10px; padding: 0; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/4567/South-Carolina/Charleston/Mount-Pleasant/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/4567.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Mount Pleasant on Dwellable</a></div>
Works Cited<br />
<a name='more'></a>ACE Basin Species Gallery: Gray Fox. (n.d.). ACE Basin Species Gallery: Gray Fox. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/specgal/grayfox.htm<br />
<br />
Anhinga. (n.d.). , Identification, All About Birds. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/anhinga/id<br />
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BIGNONIACEAE. (n.d.). BIGNONIACEAE. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://theseedsite.co.uk/bignoniaceae.html<br />
<br />
Lone star tick a concern, but not for Lyme disease. (2011, October 21). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/stari/disease/<br />
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Molting. (n.d.). Natural History: Lifecycle-Embryonic Development. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://www.horseshoecrab.org/nh/molt.html<br />
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Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). (n.d.). SCDNR. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/species/redfox.html<br />
<br />
Ticks. (n.d.). Types Of In South Carolina, Tick Bites And Tick Control. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://www.aikenpest.com/pest-identification/profile/ticks<br />
<br />
Trumpet Creeper. (n.d.). . Retrieved July 10, 2014, from http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_cara2.pdfAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-48900725825524849892014-07-06T20:29:00.001-06:002015-04-25T15:37:19.192-06:00Brachiosaurus, Riverdogs, and Frog Hunting (Day 1, SC 2014)Here's a brain teaser: how can you tie the 4th of July to <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Brachiosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Brachiosaurus</span></a></i>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Carolina" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">South Carolina</span></a>, and air travel altogether? It's probably pretty difficult unless you were with me on the 4th of July when my family and I traveled from South Carolina by airplane, while having a layover in Chicago's O'Hare airport in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Illinois" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Illinois</span></a>, where they have a mounted Brachiosaurus skeleton! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HjHLiN7QfP15uFj3YBDibqSgxkYqKiVnxsWMg24q9aLW5Vl-o8T209XU41XfWLBaHmj-D7co4WqVU_cJFWdsxYIrcIMbEL8563CdC4OhXKVr8upNhpAOdYH1SZl9vUz1zb38MQk0wA/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+in+the+Chicago+o%2527hare+airport+in+illinois+with+mark+neher+julie+neher+and+dani+neher+for+scale+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HjHLiN7QfP15uFj3YBDibqSgxkYqKiVnxsWMg24q9aLW5Vl-o8T209XU41XfWLBaHmj-D7co4WqVU_cJFWdsxYIrcIMbEL8563CdC4OhXKVr8upNhpAOdYH1SZl9vUz1zb38MQk0wA/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+in+the+Chicago+o%2527hare+airport+in+illinois+with+mark+neher+julie+neher+and+dani+neher+for+scale+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family unwittingly taking part of a scheme I concocted to have them act as scale bars for my <i>Brachiosaurus</i> picture. They had no idea that I was manipulating them in such a fashion.</td></tr>
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But the connection goes a little bit deeper than that, though. It was actually on the fourth of July, way back when in the year 1900, when H. W. Menke, an assistant of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologist</span></a> Elmer Riggs, first discovered <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a> bones at what would one day be called Quarry 13 in Grand Valley, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>. From this quarry, the bones of a unique <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sauropod" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sauropod</span></a> were uncovered. It wasn't until several years later, in 1903, when Riggs gave a scientific name to this new leviathan, <i>Brachiosaurus altithorax</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WRVcY6m2LNq7ObmovfImfNfjsGvMFomE0p5rU1Y5kUhiSrlGDzmPq0cCVmTrvpt_CfUSyrT1la6DDFJ-MN8WNuzBIT_8O83biOtLq7SV4ipgxgaXiNNrvDrXb1QUNoCbN56YjOSUtQ/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+in+the+illinois+chicago+o%2527hare+airport+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WRVcY6m2LNq7ObmovfImfNfjsGvMFomE0p5rU1Y5kUhiSrlGDzmPq0cCVmTrvpt_CfUSyrT1la6DDFJ-MN8WNuzBIT_8O83biOtLq7SV4ipgxgaXiNNrvDrXb1QUNoCbN56YjOSUtQ/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+in+the+illinois+chicago+o%2527hare+airport+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
Today, a cast of this now-famous dinosaur is mounted in the Chicago O'Hare airport, and we got to see it on our layover! Here are some pictures of this fantastic beastie! It was originally at the Chicago Field Museum, but apparently was moved to the airport several years ago, to make room for the most complete <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus rex</span></a></i> skeleton known, nicknamed "Sue." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPYynHElk8o6uNKN5EnDUXNDHd8jnICwy0fbN93SBSRCDy83EvIVj1KOyOKsW43aYknQ0h0JgCezgOE5h8W7VxELjkGZHHYhtDWsURU3DhGee-4Ch06-qMNStzfOM4duFgOkicw4BMQ/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+neck+and+skull+at+the+Chicago+O%2527hare+airport+in+Illinois+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPYynHElk8o6uNKN5EnDUXNDHd8jnICwy0fbN93SBSRCDy83EvIVj1KOyOKsW43aYknQ0h0JgCezgOE5h8W7VxELjkGZHHYhtDWsURU3DhGee-4Ch06-qMNStzfOM4duFgOkicw4BMQ/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+neck+and+skull+at+the+Chicago+O%2527hare+airport+in+Illinois+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>Brachiosaurus</i>, as you can see in the pictures, in an extraordinarily large animal! A sauropod, or long necked dinosaur, its remains have been discovered in the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Morrison%20Formation" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Formation</span></a> from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Jurassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Jurassic Period</span></a>, deposited approximately 150 MYA. <i>Brachiosaurus</i> differs from other Morrison Formation sauropods such as <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Apatosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Apatosaurus</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Camarasaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Camarasaurus</span></a></i> in that the fore limbs of the animal are much larger than the hind limbs. In <i>Apatosaurus</i>, the opposite is true, with the fore limbs about twice as short as the hind limbs. As a matter of fact, the name <i>Brachiosaurus</i> even means "arm lizard!" </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeqDFqZ4rA8nJjw65WobezbiuPcgCbhMDOwxyoz7tB_Bd45wnHIqWC1atsnXYJeymRnwRkdBqKxCFWanqRR5M0N4rQPyFf_jmRJVGrkO-T6n1sBw1voqdYRWEIJG2oSx45Tp5GU1yLg/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+front+left+arm+next+to+a+sexy+Zack+Neher+for+scale+in+the+Chicago+O%2527hare+airport+in+Illinois+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeqDFqZ4rA8nJjw65WobezbiuPcgCbhMDOwxyoz7tB_Bd45wnHIqWC1atsnXYJeymRnwRkdBqKxCFWanqRR5M0N4rQPyFf_jmRJVGrkO-T6n1sBw1voqdYRWEIJG2oSx45Tp5GU1yLg/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+front+left+arm+next+to+a+sexy+Zack+Neher+for+scale+in+the+Chicago+O%2527hare+airport+in+Illinois+Photo+Credit+Julie+Neher.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself standing next to the brach of <i>Brachiosaurus</i>! Photo Credit: <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Julie%20Neher" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Julie Neher</span></a></td></tr>
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A very closely related dinosaur, now known as <i>Giraffatitan brancai</i>, used to be referred to as another species of <i>Brachiosaurus</i>. <i>Giraffatitan</i> (whose name literally means "giant <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giraffe" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giraffe</span></a>"), an <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">African</span></a> sauropod, is known from the Tendaguru Beds in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tanzania" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tanzania</span></a>, a formation which is approximately contemporaneous with the Morrison Formation from the western <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/United%20States" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">United States</span></a>. Other dinosaurs, such as <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stegosaurus</span></a></i> from the Morrison and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Kentrosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Kentrosaurus</span></a></i> from Tendaguru, seem pretty closely related.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcNrmWMYwP2tDgXC4SmBmgcGHgUdz91lxc_SCxngjzrKjMDRDdejcYtbRjAn4cjCGj9Otudwwfqwb0nURFFxWc6fAa0a5iJBuwTCamNYW15Qam4fu42lhUsuly3EvxZttgZczcCExZQ/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+left+hind+foot+at+the+Chicago+O%2527Hare+Airport+in+Illinois+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcNrmWMYwP2tDgXC4SmBmgcGHgUdz91lxc_SCxngjzrKjMDRDdejcYtbRjAn4cjCGj9Otudwwfqwb0nURFFxWc6fAa0a5iJBuwTCamNYW15Qam4fu42lhUsuly3EvxZttgZczcCExZQ/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+left+hind+foot+at+the+Chicago+O%2527Hare+Airport+in+Illinois+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The foot of <i>Brachiosaurus</i>. </td></tr>
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We were flying to O'Hare from Charleston in South Carolina. Although we are back from our trip, I wanted to start with the end of our trip, the <i>Brachiosaurus</i>, as it had that fun little tie-in to the Fourth of July. But starting from the beginning....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznBJ0qn5K2zKsunNpJiwpkztqsM8cNu2IPObBnRs-FNotIaJs8tQtdRbDWCsGYxjbtFM9SPPwRoLTFX68gqKOb7NpbVRDbBvhwLu0JFhCqLGrNYsnHO8IZa4VRro5DKAr9NBVX9cjBw/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+in+the+chicago+o'hare+airport+in+illinois+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznBJ0qn5K2zKsunNpJiwpkztqsM8cNu2IPObBnRs-FNotIaJs8tQtdRbDWCsGYxjbtFM9SPPwRoLTFX68gqKOb7NpbVRDbBvhwLu0JFhCqLGrNYsnHO8IZa4VRro5DKAr9NBVX9cjBw/s1600/Brachiosaurus+altithorax+in+the+chicago+o'hare+airport+in+illinois+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
Just from the airport to the rental car place, a pretty short drive, I saw a ton of fun and exciting <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">birds</span></a>, including cardinals, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Heron" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">herons</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Osprey" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">osprey</span></a>, and egrets! South Carolina has a ton of birds, many of which you can see all over the place! I didn't get any great pictures on the first day, but here we have one of a Mississippi kite (<i>Ictinia mississippiensis</i>)! I wasn't entirely sure what it was, thinking it might be a harrier, but a quick email to my friend <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Anne%20Price" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Anne Price</span></a>, the Curator of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird%20of%20Prey" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Raptors</span></a> at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/REF" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Raptor Education Foundation</span></a> confirmed that it was indeed a Mississippi kite! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0LLApv2mYsByv7QiViKccNyD9XgO4CkSzj5ZbV-rDAInlOZrfv6Nf3tgQf3_ZoxIaevcAPU7QjaYbG5vzunTEhFMuQU5uhypSIiyMa8nSq35Ov9w9ErmRkZe-x9d0RdOvdzkWu-d8w/s1600/Mississippi+Kite+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Confirmed+by+Anne+Price+photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0LLApv2mYsByv7QiViKccNyD9XgO4CkSzj5ZbV-rDAInlOZrfv6Nf3tgQf3_ZoxIaevcAPU7QjaYbG5vzunTEhFMuQU5uhypSIiyMa8nSq35Ov9w9ErmRkZe-x9d0RdOvdzkWu-d8w/s1600/Mississippi+Kite+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Confirmed+by+Anne+Price+photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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This I am almost positive is a Carolina wren (<i>Thryothorus ludovicianus</i>), the state bird of South Carolina! The only other bird that I think is a possibility is the Bewick's wren (<i>Thryomanes bewickii</i>), but the body coloration of this bird makes me think it more likely that it is the Carolina wren. It is a little tough to see in the photograph below, but the bird is in the middle of the photo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEtxWs_ud54oVcKeqQuVxqoRKQjDy3ANsPG9qoj_aaP5qjQq6Qo7cIl8CKS1zl1BIitEDhnvhMDM_fL86CFFFlOr7B5EGPnxJlVd6ZD2tguW5n1umCpA7oZ5MzbuHAPFm_5M7YYNX4w/s1600/Carolina+Wren+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEtxWs_ud54oVcKeqQuVxqoRKQjDy3ANsPG9qoj_aaP5qjQq6Qo7cIl8CKS1zl1BIitEDhnvhMDM_fL86CFFFlOr7B5EGPnxJlVd6ZD2tguW5n1umCpA7oZ5MzbuHAPFm_5M7YYNX4w/s1600/Carolina+Wren+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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We love visiting South Carolina so much so that we can see our very good friends the Beckleys! Once we got to their house and got settled, I went out back to look around for a few minutes, which is when I took that picture of the possible harrier. They also have different <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Squirrel" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">squirrels</span></a> here in SC: in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Boulder" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Boulder</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, we commonly see the fox squirrel (<i>Sciurus niger</i>), while in SC you see another member of the same genus, the eastern gray squirrel (<i>Sciurus carolinensis</i>). Apparently, the eastern gray squirrel is the most commonly seen <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammal</span></a> east of the Mississippi River!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WUsdj0dMGi91F0J6Oz4B_6Iv5pNkXmUBXSYKb0tiGap_bxHLnIPUzjmgipYulwBphWBOXElWqGnaIFNvW236Uyr_t1U40LhVJ-PhOE3Oz_p_ikqcFicfumVrVKwsUTfXrnrnc8l6kA/s1600/eastern+gray+squirrel+in+south+carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WUsdj0dMGi91F0J6Oz4B_6Iv5pNkXmUBXSYKb0tiGap_bxHLnIPUzjmgipYulwBphWBOXElWqGnaIFNvW236Uyr_t1U40LhVJ-PhOE3Oz_p_ikqcFicfumVrVKwsUTfXrnrnc8l6kA/s1600/eastern+gray+squirrel+in+south+carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's a picture of Honey, one of two of the Beckley's <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dogs</span></a>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeedWx8yA7j3YoYkWflTDXs5pTEt9Cs5Y2w8wbahg_9IJtA9DJsv6LE1J8Tpjj7mO3foBQYpaY0KWyNhOM-YkxLSCv94XBwsyC9ruZoCWBLBHmiokdfVMA-KBklA9WaYTvm3hdW499w/s1600/honey+the+golden+retriever+in+south+carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeedWx8yA7j3YoYkWflTDXs5pTEt9Cs5Y2w8wbahg_9IJtA9DJsv6LE1J8Tpjj7mO3foBQYpaY0KWyNhOM-YkxLSCv94XBwsyC9ruZoCWBLBHmiokdfVMA-KBklA9WaYTvm3hdW499w/s1600/honey+the+golden+retriever+in+south+carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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To celebrate the Fourth of July, our families went to a minor league baseball game featuring the local Charleston RiverDogs (affiliated with the New York Yankees), playing the Rome Braves. Although the RiverDogs lost, you, the reader, will end up winning, as you get to learn about riverdogs. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivF2mvJbO9sUW0WHLiZ_jleA7fjmyAsah0RpO-QTYUXzFIZodTRz69pqwhKl0yt1drwBJ5WQahqiTRANIgUykDjAX2AtM_2-5mapFE2GZBr20mfFYdhIsnAz1H7oqeMMDbkQ-kNqAf9w/s1600/Pete+Perez+Pitcher+for+the+Rome+Braves+Playing+the+Charleston+Riverdogs+on+the+Fourth+of+July+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivF2mvJbO9sUW0WHLiZ_jleA7fjmyAsah0RpO-QTYUXzFIZodTRz69pqwhKl0yt1drwBJ5WQahqiTRANIgUykDjAX2AtM_2-5mapFE2GZBr20mfFYdhIsnAz1H7oqeMMDbkQ-kNqAf9w/s1600/Pete+Perez+Pitcher+for+the+Rome+Braves+Playing+the+Charleston+Riverdogs+on+the+Fourth+of+July+in+Charleston+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete Perez, the pitcher for the Rome Braves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOOO-M_cz6V5fU0Fqzq10ONjbSRdh9ulENOl_tOYS79F2gi06mCo7p9n5H1OuJ-8icQh6GOk_QCZVjgAzRvvPuQPDS7OcZ8i0ZQlWeivNxKlTku8Ta5FYqWDr-aOuzlR5INOaSFfSIQ/s1600/Charleston+Riverdogs+Snapback+Flatbill+Hat+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOOO-M_cz6V5fU0Fqzq10ONjbSRdh9ulENOl_tOYS79F2gi06mCo7p9n5H1OuJ-8icQh6GOk_QCZVjgAzRvvPuQPDS7OcZ8i0ZQlWeivNxKlTku8Ta5FYqWDr-aOuzlR5INOaSFfSIQ/s1600/Charleston+Riverdogs+Snapback+Flatbill+Hat+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An awesome RiverDog hat that I got at the game! On it, you can see that the logo is simply a dog, and not an <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Otter" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">otter</span></a>, a salamander, or a turd. If you are confused, then you are clearly not familiar with the associations that the word "riverdog" has with different people.</td></tr>
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At first, I assumed that a riverdog might be a nickname for the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Otter" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">otter</span></a>. Although the connection seems tenuous (with other, <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=River%20Dog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">slightly more raunchy</span></a> suggestions out there), it looks like riverdog might be the nickname for the Hellbender <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Salamander" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">salamander</span></a> (<i>Crypotobranchus alleganiensis</i>), the largest aquatic salamander in the United States! The hellbender can often grow to a foot in length, but apparently can sometimes grow to more than two feet!</div>
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I thought it was interesting that other salamanders are sometimes given dog-like nicknames, such as "mudpuppy." Apparently, this nickname is due to the fact that the mudpuppy and waterdogs, all members of the genus <i>Necturus</i>, make a dog-like vocalization. Like the <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Axolotl" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">axolotl</span></a>, the mudpuppies and waterdogs retain their external gills as they mature. </div>
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Later on in the day, after the sun set, I went out <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Alligator" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gator</span></a> huntin' with a flashlight and my camera. I didn't see any gators, but I saw lots of fun critters on the golf course at night! First, here we have what I think is a squareback marsh crab (<i>Armases cinereum</i>). This <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crab" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crab</span></a> is semi-terrestrial, and I saw it maybe 20 or 30 yards from the nearest pond.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaE4EvwdWT8GgtlxVBPVJv88T1EwqzmkkwfYKul5KyEF7-8JVTA2zRJlPyXLVXAJsjPbhpz_txMDQGGg7jLcKhgWmkmuMnKsD1ntRBeN910JBt_rFGzqvdIZHxLH7ueFlHkXKOBtYtA/s1600/Suspected+Squareback+Marsh+Crab+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolian+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaE4EvwdWT8GgtlxVBPVJv88T1EwqzmkkwfYKul5KyEF7-8JVTA2zRJlPyXLVXAJsjPbhpz_txMDQGGg7jLcKhgWmkmuMnKsD1ntRBeN910JBt_rFGzqvdIZHxLH7ueFlHkXKOBtYtA/s1600/Suspected+Squareback+Marsh+Crab+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolian+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
There were also a ton of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Frog" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">frogs</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Toad" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">toads</span></a>, many of them concentrated around the sand traps on the golf course, and others in the little sprinkler areas. I have attempted to identify these frogs to the best of my ability, but I'm not 100% certain about them! The lighting was weird (it was at night, and I had a flashlight shining on a lot of them), and sometimes the colors of the frogs got washed out. But I think the frog below is a green tree frog (<i>Hyla cinerea</i>). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwnOs2hwF2moUJalSVmlDOnm2zR9lX8i3w-2vn8-EjLThN3WmFqZe8s1R7VkHCfh6vaoG5X-37m7JdPG5xowzBMFrUb7r-zT24wDwyJUjf4rE0hAOo4ek2OKgeHjIRQGLhYGJ-Hf-Eg/s1600/Suspected+Green+Tree+Frog+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwnOs2hwF2moUJalSVmlDOnm2zR9lX8i3w-2vn8-EjLThN3WmFqZe8s1R7VkHCfh6vaoG5X-37m7JdPG5xowzBMFrUb7r-zT24wDwyJUjf4rE0hAOo4ek2OKgeHjIRQGLhYGJ-Hf-Eg/s1600/Suspected+Green+Tree+Frog+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
I think both of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Amphibian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">amphibians</span></a> below were American toads (<i>Anaxyrus americanus</i>), with the second one actually pretty large, maybe three inches long when sitting like in the picture!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZUBLecMoVYScDjlpJpgxJa5nuH_DUHKP6MuEvh3pdJKTagUrh99d18x9Khyt8l09YIf8aci4msmVpgp1z8IZGVD8ui3zPtqDH2IJ5nTTD40cav5OEDFeSlJKEEYJrusuntWhcNthhg/s1600/Suspected+American+Toad+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZUBLecMoVYScDjlpJpgxJa5nuH_DUHKP6MuEvh3pdJKTagUrh99d18x9Khyt8l09YIf8aci4msmVpgp1z8IZGVD8ui3zPtqDH2IJ5nTTD40cav5OEDFeSlJKEEYJrusuntWhcNthhg/s1600/Suspected+American+Toad+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTbgS0NdZ7nmgzOj4q5DYCiMnmOS8iiF8Ocfen3EcKpFcd_qhTf6-gx-uSFCEo62Lu2PqYYJg6VzPTorIYc4ERMvJ4DRqFftg6kBrdfAeoD6RMYyjrfUunlV1dAHA-oXIWS18Vse4-Q/s1600/Suspected+Larger+American+Toad+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTbgS0NdZ7nmgzOj4q5DYCiMnmOS8iiF8Ocfen3EcKpFcd_qhTf6-gx-uSFCEo62Lu2PqYYJg6VzPTorIYc4ERMvJ4DRqFftg6kBrdfAeoD6RMYyjrfUunlV1dAHA-oXIWS18Vse4-Q/s1600/Suspected+Larger+American+Toad+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another little critter that I got a good picture of was the southern leopard frog (<i>Lithobates sphenocephalus</i>). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVG1rEEbeVt1X5zZTNtIcfTASL11JD8ytMZ5UyGexUrlI9UJD3FnQuohrVdDuw_wQmfwUNSlV8xXGH3NDEeqjImU7nJnu_p7aygA0UTdNtqvh5IXMVflvf8vBCCFciBjGQJtXbekISg/s1600/Suspected+Southern+Leopard+Frog+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVG1rEEbeVt1X5zZTNtIcfTASL11JD8ytMZ5UyGexUrlI9UJD3FnQuohrVdDuw_wQmfwUNSlV8xXGH3NDEeqjImU7nJnu_p7aygA0UTdNtqvh5IXMVflvf8vBCCFciBjGQJtXbekISg/s1600/Suspected+Southern+Leopard+Frog+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Apparently, cockroaches are found in Colorado, but I don't think I've ever seen any of them. I did see an American cockroach (<i>Periplaneta americana</i>) on my little walkabout, however. I thought that was kind of cool, because on the airplane today, I read a paper entitled "Cockroaches Probably Cleaned Up After Dinosaurs" (Vršanský et. al.). The paper discussed how members of the family of proto-cockroaches, the Blatullidae, have been linked to the byproducts of certain types of dinosaurs, using interesting fossil amber from Lebanon. So I got way more excited about this cockroach then really anyone else would, ever. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9Z1F27ELhZeAcQXHL82tdm5jRqEoQ8-JRhTkSCqjum5QkFSIdI-SKmuX0i9eOcBJzKYS04ljVsn_VxCHchVs8_38EkE3rbSWUfcNePkAXsByi7_PW9H0ZuUitKyQRMXwLqbAOpYfxw/s1600/Suspected+American+Cockroach+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9Z1F27ELhZeAcQXHL82tdm5jRqEoQ8-JRhTkSCqjum5QkFSIdI-SKmuX0i9eOcBJzKYS04ljVsn_VxCHchVs8_38EkE3rbSWUfcNePkAXsByi7_PW9H0ZuUitKyQRMXwLqbAOpYfxw/s1600/Suspected+American+Cockroach+in+Mount+Pleasant+South+Carolina+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/16382/South-Carolina/Charleston/Isle-of-Palms/Wild-Dunes/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/16382.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Wild Dunes on Dwellable</a></div>
Works Cited:
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Cockroaches. (n.d.). <i>Types Of In South Carolina</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.aikenpest.com/pest-identification/profile/cockroaches</div>
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Cockroach Identification. (n.d.). <i>Cockroaches In Colorado</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.enviropest.com/pest-identification/cockroaches</div>
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Descriptions and articles about the Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) - Encyclopedia of Life. (n.d.). <i>Encyclopedia of Life</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://eol.org/pages/347685/details</div>
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Eastern Hellbender. (n.d.). <i>Eastern Hellbender</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hellbender/</div>
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Frogs and Toads of South Carolina and Georgia. (n.d.). <i>Frogs and Toads of South Carolina and Georgia</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/</div>
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Hellbender Salamander Facts | The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). <i>Hellbender Salamander Facts | The Nature Conservancy</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/animals/amphibians/hellbender-salamander-facts.xml</div>
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Mudpuppies, Mudpuppy Pictures, Mudpuppy Facts - National Geographic. (n.d.). <i>National Geographic</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/mudpuppy/</div>
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SERTC: Crustacean Photo Gallery. (n.d.). <i></i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/sertc/Crustacean%20gallery.htm</div>
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Squareback Marsh Crab. (n.d.). <i>Squareback Marsh Crab</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Armase_cinere.htm</div>
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Taylor, M. P. A Re-Evaluation of Brachiosaurus altithorax (Riggs 1903) (Dinosauria, Sauropod) and It's Generic Separation From Giraffatitan brancai (Janensch, 1914). <i>Society of Vertebrate Paleontology</i>, <i>29</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.miketaylor.org.uk/dino/pubs/taylor2009/Taylor2009-brachiosaurus-and-giraffatitan.pdf</div>
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Vršanský, P., de Kamp, T. v., Azar, D., Prokin, A., Vidlička, L., & Vagovič, P. Cockroaches Probably Cleaned Up After Dinosaurs. <i>PLOS ONE</i>. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0080560</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-29575585726513555192014-06-24T15:31:00.000-06:002015-04-25T15:35:38.735-06:00Moenkopi and Lykins: The Mid-Triassic in Western North AmericaIn this post, we continue with out exploration of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mid%20Triassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Mid-Triassic</span></a>, 240 MYA. In this post, we look at the Moenkopi and Lykins Formations of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North America</span></a>, and see what they can tell us about this ancient time. We also delve a bit into the evolution of fin-backs and sails as display structures, like you can see in the picture below.<br />
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In the Moenkopi Formation of North America, we can gain a more complete understanding of the terrestrial fauna of this time period. We already discussed the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rauisuchian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rauisuchian</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ticinosuchus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Ticinosuchus</span></a></i> and the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Protorosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">protorosaur</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Macrocnemus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Macrocnemus</span></a></i> from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Monte%20San%20Giorgio" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Monte San Giorgio</span></a>, as well as the large temnospondyl <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Amphibian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">amphibian</span></a> <i>Eocyclotosaurus</i> from Grès à Voltzia, but there were lots of other very exciting animals alive back then as well. <i>Arizonasaurus</i>, a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Poposaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">poposaurid</span></a> <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Archosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">archosaur</span></a>, was likely one of the top predators, and had a back adorned by a <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Spinosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Spinosaurus</span></a></i>-like sail, similar to the sail seen in the more primitive <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Germany" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">German</span></a> archosaur <i>Ctenosauriscus</i>.<br />
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We talked about the poposaurs in a recent post which you can read by clicking <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2014/05/top-ten-extinct-crocodilians-pt-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>. The poposaurs, as well as the rauisuchians, were both members of a large group that many scientists refer to as "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pseudosuchian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pseudosuchians</span></a>." These animals were <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Crocodilian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">crocodilian</span></a> in nature, and fairly closely related to them. But some pseudosuchians, including some rauisuchians and poposaurs, actually evolved a body design similar to some types of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaurs</span></a>, where they could walk on either two or four feet.<br />
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Let's jump back to the sails on the back of <i>Arizonasaurus</i>, <i>Ctenosauriscus</i>, and <i>Spinosaurus</i>. The first two are fairly closely related to each other, but <i>Spinosaurus</i> is not closely related at all, separated by around 150 MY of geologic time. The question is, why would these animals have <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Convergent%20Evolution" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">convergently evolved</span></a> these sails on their backs? The orthodox answer is that the sails help the animal thermoregulate, that by turning the sail towards or away from the sun, it would help the animal warm up or cool off. Similar ideas have been proposed for other animals that feature similar anatomical structures, such as <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stegosaurus</span></a></i> with its double row of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Plate%20%28Stegosaur%29" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">plates</span></a> down its back, or the primitive <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Synapsid" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">synapsids</span></a> <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dimetrodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dimetrodon</span></a></i> and <i>Edaphosaurus</i>. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf5eaa6mDJNZmXa8AqOAcs2AbcKavbKBSZ5xJn2KrYUGGFViiByetaHYwJcTtOa6xcO5hQbwmFU2dxrygeJQW8Za6HYU33WilHIV_wxxw5274DsIoiS-FpUJv0Edey1AjlPopEL-DEg/s1600/105_1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf5eaa6mDJNZmXa8AqOAcs2AbcKavbKBSZ5xJn2KrYUGGFViiByetaHYwJcTtOa6xcO5hQbwmFU2dxrygeJQW8Za6HYU33WilHIV_wxxw5274DsIoiS-FpUJv0Edey1AjlPopEL-DEg/s1600/105_1875.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A model of a juvenile <i>Stegosaurus</i> from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/MNHM" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Natural History Museum</span></a>. Other <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">stegosaurs</span></a> that are very closely related, such as <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Kentrosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Kentrosaurus</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Wuerhosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Wuerhosaurus</span></a></i>, have very different shaped plates, and a different amount of plates, as well.</td></tr>
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This idea has some major flaws, however, as argued by <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologist</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20T.%20Bakker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dr. Robert Bakker</span></a> in his excellent and influential book "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Dinosaur%20Heresies" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">The Dinosaur Heresies</span></a>." In the book, Bakker points out that very close relatives of these sail-animals don't have these strange fins on their back. If the thermoregulation theory is accepted, then that would suggest that these very closely related animals had very different thermoregulatory needs. For example, Bakker points out that the primitive synapsids <i>Dimetrodon</i> and <i>Sphenacodon</i> are very closely related to each other, and most of their anatomy is very similar, other than the fact that <i>Dimetrodon</i> has that enormous sail on its back, and <i>Sphenacodon</i> has only a very slight elongation of its vertebrae. If we accept the thermoregulatory hypothesis at face value, it would imply that, despite being very similar in anatomy and lifestyle, for whatever reason <i>Dimetrodon</i> and <i>Sphenacodon</i> had drastically different thermoregulatory needs. Below, we have a chart showing a sail-back on the left with a closely related animal on the right, this one lacking a sail.<br />
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So what do we propose instead? Most likely a means of attracting a mate. In animals today, it is display structures and behavior pertaining to courtship that changes the most. An excellent example of this is the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Birds%20of%20Paradise" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">birds of paradise</span></a> from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20Guinea" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">New Guinea</span></a>, which we discussed in greater depth in a post with a similar focus, in regards to the plates of <i>Stegosaurus</i>, which you can read <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-puropose-of-plates-of-stegosaurus.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>.<br />
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<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Shark" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Sharks</span></a>, such as the very strange-looking <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hybodus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Hybodus</span></a></i>, have also been discovered in the Moenkopi Formation.<br />
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Where I live in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, the Lykins Formation is approximately contemporaneous with the Moenkopi Formation. The Lykins Formation isn't the most exciting of Colorado's geologic formations (at least not for people interested in fossils or excitement), but stromatolites can be found in some areas of the formation. Stromatolites are layers of wavy and convoluted cyanobacteria that sometimes form in areas of shallow water. Cyanobacteria by themselves aren't very big, as they are simply single-celled photosynthetic <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bacteria" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bacteria</span></a>. However, together, the gelatinous secretions they produce is enough to trap the sediment that settles out of the water, forming visible laminations that sometimes fossilize. <br />
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Stromatolites were much more common prior to the Cambrian Explosion approximately 500 MYA, as back then there wasn't really anything that could eat it. Believe it or not, layers of cyanobacteria are notoriously bad at running away from herbivores, even something as slow as a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Snail" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">snail</span></a> or a slug. Today, stromatolites are relatively rare, especially considering their past abundance, but you can still find them in isolated areas like Shark Bay, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Australia" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Australia</span></a>, and Lake Salda in Turkey. Most stromatolites form in areas that discourage herbivore grazing. Shark Bay and Lake Salda are both hypersaline areas, places where most herbivores simply don't want to go (especially slugs and snails). More recently, stromatolite-like growths were found living in an abandoned asbestos mine in Yukon, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Canada" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Canada</span></a>. This indicates to us that the parts of the Lykins Formation in which the stromatolites are found were likely not conducive to supporting herbivores, perhaps also due to hypersaline conditions.<br />
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Join us soon for our next post, in which we look at ancestors of both dinosaurs and mammals that were alive during this time! We will also do a little investigating into different types of dentition, so stay tuned!<br />
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Works Cited:<br />
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Bakker, R. T. (1986). The dinosaur heresies: new theories unlocking the mystery of the dinosaurs and their extinction. New York: Morrow.<br />
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Bottjer, D. J. (2002). <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=pxlv0KbjfO4C&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=gres+a+voltzia&source=bl&ots=MydrguWx-7&sig=-vRwAQ-ZrGGu2rjCJSNJqTUe38I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rnSkU6j0NbHo8AHSr4GgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CGEQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q&f=false"><span style="color: yellow;">Exceptional Fossil Preservation: A Unique View on the Evolution of Marine Life</span></a>. New York: Columbia University Press.<br />
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Braithwaite, C. J., & Zedef, V. Hydromagnesite Stromatolites and Sediments in an Alkaline Lake, Salda Golu, Turkey. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 66. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://jsedres.geoscienceworld.org/content/66/5/991.abstract<br />
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Carroll, R. L. (1988). Vertebrate paleontology and evolution. New York, N.Y.: W.H. Freeman and Company.<br />
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Fiorelli, Lucas E., Martín D. Ezcurra, E. Martín Hechenleitner, Eloisa Argañaraz, Jeremías R. A. Taborda, M. Jimena Trotteyn, M. Belén Von Baczko, and Julia B. Desojo. The oldest known communal latrines provide evidence of gregarism in Triassic megaherbivores. Scientific Reports. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131128/srep03348/full/srep03348.html#ref8<br />
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Hammer, WR., 1990: Thrinaxodon from Graphite Peak, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. Antarctic Journal of the United States, 255: 37-38<br />
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Lautenschlager, S., & Desojo, J. B. Reassessment of the Middle Triassic Rauisuchian Archosaurs Ticinosuchus ferox and Stagonosuchus nyassicus. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225706328_Reassessment_of_the_Middle_Triassic_rauisuchian_archosaurs_Ticinosuchus_ferox_and_Stagonosuchus_nyassicus<br />
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Mickelson, D. L. (2014, June 6). Triassic Tracks in the Moenkopi Formation. National Parks Service. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.nps.gov/care/naturescience/triassictrack.htm<br />
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Morales, M. Terrestrial Fauna and Flora from the Triassic Moenkopi Formation of the Southwestern United States. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 22. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40024380?uid=3739568&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104182410797<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J. Arizonasaurus and Its Implications for Archosaur Divergence. Biological Sciences, 270. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/270/Suppl_2/S234.abstract<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J. Osteology of the Middle Triassic Pseudosuchian Archosaur Arizonasaurus babbitti. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology, 17. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08912960500476499#.U6Ti2ZRdV1-<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J., Barrett, P. M., Werning, S., Sidor, C. A., & Charig, A. J. The Oldest Dinosaur? A Middle Triassic Dinosauriform from Tanzania. Biology Letters, 9. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/9/1/20120949.abstract<br />
<br />
Owen, D., & Pemberton, D. (2005). Tasmanian devil: a unique and threatened animal. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin.<br />
<br />
Power, I. M., S. A. Wilson, G. M. Dipple, and G. Southam. Modern carbonate microbialites from an asbestos open pit pond, Yukon, Canada. Geobiology, 9. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1472-4669.2010.00265.x/abstract<br />
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Reptiles. (n.d.). Monte San Giorgio. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.montesangiorgio.org/en/Monte-San-Giorgio/I-fossili/I-rettili.html<br />
<br />
Switek, B. (2008, April 1). Heterodonty where you least expect it. Laelaps. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2008/04/01/heterodont-archosaurs/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-22897723223264082092014-06-24T13:13:00.001-06:002015-04-25T15:34:15.801-06:00Grès à Voltzia: Mid-Triassic French Lagerstätten<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2014/06/240-mya-messing-around-in-mid-triassic.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">In our last post</span></a>*, we got our first glimpse of some of the flora and fauna that inhabited the earth 240 MYA, in the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mid%20Triassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Mid Triassic Period</span></a>. In that post, we mostly looked at the aquatic environments, fossils found at a fascinating place in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Italy" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Italy</span></a> called <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Monte%20San%20Giorgio" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Monte san Giorgio</span></a>. In good time, we will learn more about the terrestrial ecosystems and what lived on land. But first, let us look between the aquatic and the terrestrial. Let's look at the seashores of this ancient Earth.<br />
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To gain a better understanding of what lived on the margins of the oceans, we can look at Grès à Voltzia in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/France" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">France</span></a>. The importance of this site lies not just in the preservation of a large number of different organisms, but in the exceptional quality of said preservation. Grès à Voltzia is considered a Lagerstätte, a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Germany" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">German</span></a> word referring to fossil sites that feature remarkable detail in the preservation of fossils, with famous examples including the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Solnhofen" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Solnhofen Limestone</span></a> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Germany" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Germany</span></a> and the Green River Formation in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Wyoming" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Wyoming</span></a>. The depositional environment that would one day become Grès à Voltzia featured deltas very close to the shore, and were home to many animals. This prime habitat resulted in the burial of both terrestrial and marine animals, painting an even more complete picture of this ecosystem.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4Yiepxma-fQ-HcEgNVRCgMCm_PRUYAnSu5qndzj45SaefSuKcjpRE2WVzz079S87yYMaN73b0YQ3jCGxOCL7H2vACs5gsduCNeD-I4jlY9NL_Gf089WJJmDmRoUnPb-lizc1kK_2RA/s1600/Archaeopteryx,+Pterodactylus,+Icaronycteris+from+Various+Lagersta%CC%88tte+like+Solnhofen+in+Germany+and+the+Green+River+Formation+in+Wyoming+from+tnaturalworld1+Instagram+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4Yiepxma-fQ-HcEgNVRCgMCm_PRUYAnSu5qndzj45SaefSuKcjpRE2WVzz079S87yYMaN73b0YQ3jCGxOCL7H2vACs5gsduCNeD-I4jlY9NL_Gf089WJJmDmRoUnPb-lizc1kK_2RA/s1600/Archaeopteryx,+Pterodactylus,+Icaronycteris+from+Various+Lagersta%CC%88tte+like+Solnhofen+in+Germany+and+the+Green+River+Formation+in+Wyoming+from+tnaturalworld1+Instagram+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Here we have a picture lifted from my <a href="http://instagram.com/tnaturalworld1"><span style="color: yellow;">Instagram</span></a> that shows three very different animals from the aforementioned Lagerstätten. What ties these three animals is their common ability to fly. On the right, we have pictures of two fossil casts from the Solnhofen Limestone in Germany, deposited about 150 MYA. <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Archaeopteryx" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Archaeopteryx</span></a></i>, the primitive <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bird</span></a>/<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a> link, is on top, and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterodactylus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pterodactylus</span></a></i>, a type of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pterosaur</span></a>, is on the bottom. The picture on the right is of a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bat" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bat</span></a> from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Eocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Eocene</span></a> of Wyoming, found in the Green River Formation, deposited approximately 50 MYA. Despite its age, <i>Icaronycteris</i> was fairly similar to modern bats. All three of these animals <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Convergent%20Evolution" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">convergently evolved</span></a> flight, and were not derived from a common ancestor.</td></tr>
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Along the shores of these 240 MY old rivers, horsetails and and ferns grew in abundance, as well as several different types of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Gymnosperm" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gymnosperms</span></a>. Large <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Amphibian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">amphibians</span></a> such as <i>Eocyclotosaurus</i> made their home in these waterways, as they were tied to moist environments just like modern amphibians are today. <br />
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<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Horseshoe%20Crab" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Horseshoe crabs</span></a> like <i>Limulitella</i>, very similar to modern horseshoe crabs, are commonly found, as are many types of crustaceans, such as <i>Antrimpos</i>, a type of shrimp. <br />
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Insect larvae includes dipteran (true flies), odonatopteran (<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dragonfly" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dragonflies</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Damsel%20Fly" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">damselflies</span></a>) and ephemeropteran (mayflies). Annelids (segmented worms like the modern <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Earthworm" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">earthworm</span></a>) have also been discovered here, as well as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fish</span></a> and a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jellyfish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">jellyfish</span></a>.<br />
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The horsetails, such as <i>Equisetites</i>, grew along the edges of the water, while the gymnosperms grew further inland, probably reaching at least several meters in height. <br />
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A large number of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Insect" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">insects</span></a>, including the dipterans and ephemeropterans that we already mentioned, lived here. Proto-cockroaches (blattopterans), <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Beetle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">beetles</span></a> (coleopterans), and hemipteroids were all present, as well as myriapods (centipedes and millipedes), and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Spider" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">spiders</span></a>. A strange mixture of modern and exotic looking animals to be certain!<br />
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Next time, we will be continuing our investigation regarding the flora and fauna of the Mid Triassic by learning about two <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North American</span></a> geologic formations that might reveal a bit more about the terrestrial ecosystems. Join us!<br />
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*As those of you who are familiar with myself and this blog, you are likely familiar with the fact that once I start talking, it takes a good deal to make me shut up. The same is true for writing this blog. When I originally came up with the idea to do a post about the flora and fauna that inhabited the Earth 240 MYA, flora and fauna that many people, myself included, are relatively unfamiliar with, it was supposed to be a relatively short post, maybe four or five paragraphs in length. Instead, I ended up just writing and writing and writing. I realized, as I often do, that A) so few people would be reading these posts to begin with, and B) those people who do wind up reading these posts would likely not have stuck around for an immense post that talks about everything from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ichthyosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ichthyosaurs</span></a> of Italy, the stromatolites of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Colorado" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Colorado</span></a>, the insects of France, the communal latrines of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tasmanian%20Devil" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tasmanian devils</span></a>, the lack of communal latrines of <i><a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Maiasaura" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Maiasaura</span></a></i>, the communal latrines of dicynodonts (yes, poop is cool), the heterodont condition of primitive <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Whale" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">whales</span></a>, and everything in between, that it made more sense to split the post up. This is the second installment of five (so far, at least) regarding the flora and fauna of the Mid Triassic Period, approximately 240 MYA. It now occurs to me that I probably lost most of you in this long-winded exposition. I don't want to just delete all this though, as future generations will find this fascinating glimpse into my thought processes an untapped reservoir of knowledge that is absolutely vital to an understanding of the ultimate being I shall become. I think I will just make this whole thing an endnote. <br />
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Works Cited:<br />
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Bottjer, D. J. (2002). <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=pxlv0KbjfO4C&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=gres+a+voltzia&source=bl&ots=MydrguWx-7&sig=-vRwAQ-ZrGGu2rjCJSNJqTUe38I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rnSkU6j0NbHo8AHSr4GgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CGEQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q&f=false"><span style="color: yellow;">Exceptional Fossil Preservation: A Unique View on the Evolution of Marine Life</span></a>. New York: Columbia University Press.<br />
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Braithwaite, C. J., & Zedef, V. Hydromagnesite Stromatolites and Sediments in an Alkaline Lake, Salda Golu, Turkey. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 66. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://jsedres.geoscienceworld.org/content/66/5/991.abstract<br />
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Carroll, R. L. (1988). Vertebrate paleontology and evolution. New York, N.Y.: W.H. Freeman and Company.<br />
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Fiorelli, Lucas E., Martín D. Ezcurra, E. Martín Hechenleitner, Eloisa Argañaraz, Jeremías R. A. Taborda, M. Jimena Trotteyn, M. Belén Von Baczko, and Julia B. Desojo. The oldest known communal latrines provide evidence of gregarism in Triassic megaherbivores. Scientific Reports. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131128/srep03348/full/srep03348.html#ref8<br />
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Hammer, WR., 1990: Thrinaxodon from Graphite Peak, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. Antarctic Journal of the United States, 255: 37-38<br />
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Lautenschlager, S., & Desojo, J. B. Reassessment of the Middle Triassic Rauisuchian Archosaurs Ticinosuchus ferox and Stagonosuchus nyassicus. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225706328_Reassessment_of_the_Middle_Triassic_rauisuchian_archosaurs_Ticinosuchus_ferox_and_Stagonosuchus_nyassicus<br />
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Mickelson, D. L. (2014, June 6). Triassic Tracks in the Moenkopi Formation. National Parks Service. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.nps.gov/care/naturescience/triassictrack.htm<br />
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Morales, M. Terrestrial Fauna and Flora from the Triassic Moenkopi Formation of the Southwestern United States. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 22. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40024380?uid=3739568&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104182410797<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J. Arizonasaurus and Its Implications for Archosaur Divergence. Biological Sciences, 270. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/270/Suppl_2/S234.abstract<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J. Osteology of the Middle Triassic Pseudosuchian Archosaur Arizonasaurus babbitti. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology, 17. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08912960500476499#.U6Ti2ZRdV1-<br />
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Nesbitt, S. J., Barrett, P. M., Werning, S., Sidor, C. A., & Charig, A. J. The Oldest Dinosaur? A Middle Triassic Dinosauriform from Tanzania. Biology Letters, 9. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/9/1/20120949.abstract<br />
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Owen, D., & Pemberton, D. (2005). Tasmanian devil: a unique and threatened animal. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin.<br />
<br />
Power, I. M., S. A. Wilson, G. M. Dipple, and G. Southam. Modern carbonate microbialites from an asbestos open pit pond, Yukon, Canada. Geobiology, 9. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1472-4669.2010.00265.x/abstract<br />
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Reptiles. (n.d.). Monte San Giorgio. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.montesangiorgio.org/en/Monte-San-Giorgio/I-fossili/I-rettili.html<br />
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Switek, B. (2008, April 1). Heterodonty where you least expect it. Laelaps. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2008/04/01/heterodont-archosaurs/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-35427163295801069212014-06-20T21:23:00.000-06:002015-04-25T15:33:21.407-06:00240 MYA: Messing Around in the Mid-Triassic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
People tend to think of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaurs</span></a> filling the dominant terrestrial ecological niches during the entirety of the Mesozoic Era, from the Early <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Triassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Triassic</span></a> all the way to the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Cretaceous</span></a>. This is an oversimplification, however, as the dinosaurs didn't really evolve until the Mid or <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Triassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Triassic</span></a>, and still up against competition from other groups of animals until the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Early%20Jurassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Early Jurassic</span></a>. Today, we are going to travel back in time 240 MY, back to the Middle Triassic Period. This slice of time is approximately 10 MY after the mysterious <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Permian%20Extinction" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Permian Extinction</span></a>, and is about 10-15 MY before the first undisputed dinosaurs start showing up. We are in a time when many of the animals that lived on the land and swam in the seas looked similar to life that is more familiar to us, but much of it was distinctly different.</div>
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All of the Earth's continents were united in the supercontinent Pangaea, surrounded by the super-ocean Panthalassa. The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tethys%20Sea" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tethys Sea</span></a> was nestled into what would one day become the somewhat smaller supercontinents Laurasia (<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North America</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Europe" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Europe</span></a>, and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Asia" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Asia</span></a>) and Gondwana (pretty much all the rest). Warmer conditions prevailed, and the poles were ice free all year round. Although the coasts seemed to be more hospitable to life, the center of Pangaea was not quite as welcoming, receiving little rain and remaining fairly arid. <br />
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There are several important sites around the world that preserve fossils from this time period. Let's start in the ocean and work our way onto the land, starting with Monte San Giorgio. This site along the border between Switzerland and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Italy" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Italy</span></a> gives us insight into the ecosystem that flourished beneath the waves of the Tethys Sea. <br />
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Sauropterygian <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptiles</span></a> such as the ten-foot long <i>Ceresiosaurus</i> cruised around, likely hunting smaller sauropterygians such as <i>Neusticosaurus</i>. These reptiles resembled the more famous <i>Nothosaurus</i> and the later plesiosaurs, with their four limbs greatly resembling paddles, all of approximately equal length. <br />
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The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dolphin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dolphin</span></a>-like <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ichthyosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ichthyosaurs</span></a> such as <i>Mixosaurus</i> and <i>Besanosaurus</i> would have zoomed around, feeding on faster prey such as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Squid" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">squid</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Fish" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">fish</span></a>. <i>Mixosaurus</i> was pretty much your stereotypical ichthyosaur, but <i>Besanosaurus</i> was a bit odd-looking, with all four fins/limbs being fairly close to equal in length, unlike the shortened hind flippers that is more commonly seen in ichthyosaurs. <i>Besanosaurus</i> also seems to not have had a dorsal fin.<br />
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The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giraffe" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giraffe</span></a>-like protorosaur <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tanystropheus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tanystropheus</span></a></i> also probably hunted fish and squid, using its extraordinarily long neck to ambush unwary prey items, sneaking up on them while the rest of the animal was still four or five feet away! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgA8uZV1svOFVb4Y55Ubn80bEKqAzd2z8KQ1flSgFIZxxBbryasBbaU5-2HJ-hsD-Kvqf1ahmKXaoEB1qNUgMEDCphj3CX8fN3N699tMT1EyGWHKPOjTO3G1JMGS2-jJwYATjPQX_7A/s1600/Tanystropheus+by+Sam+Lippincott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgA8uZV1svOFVb4Y55Ubn80bEKqAzd2z8KQ1flSgFIZxxBbryasBbaU5-2HJ-hsD-Kvqf1ahmKXaoEB1qNUgMEDCphj3CX8fN3N699tMT1EyGWHKPOjTO3G1JMGS2-jJwYATjPQX_7A/s1600/Tanystropheus+by+Sam+Lippincott.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drawing of the protorosaur <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tanystropheus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tanystropheus</span></a></i> by the talented young artist <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sam%20Lippincott" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Sam Lippincott</span></a>! Photo Credit: <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sam%20Lippincott" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Sam Lippincott</span></a></td></tr>
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The <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Turtle" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">turtle</span></a>-like <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Placodont" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">placodonts</span></a> like <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paraplacodus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Paraplacodus</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Cyamodus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cyamodus</span></a></i> possessed large, flat teeth perfect for crushing the shells of molluscs and crustaceans. The teeth of these placodonts are similar to the molars that you can see in the mouth of the walrus, a marine <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammal</span></a> that has a diet fairly close to the placodonts of 240 MYA. <br />
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Thalattosaurs like <i>Askeptosaurus</i> also probably fed on molluscs and crustaceans, and likely fish as well. <i>Askeptosaurus</i> had a long snout, and superficially resembled animals like <i>Ceresiosaurus</i> and <i>Nothosaurus</i>. In the picture below, the snout is tucked towards the animals left armpit, almost like it's trying to figure out whether <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Triassic" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Triassic</span></a> animals can get B.O.<br />
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Several terrestrial reptiles have been discovered at Monte San Giorgio as well, such as the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rauisuchian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rauisuchian</span></a> <i>Ticinosuchus</i> and another protorosaur like <i>Tanystropehus</i> (albeit one with a much shorter neck), <i>Macrocnemus</i>. We'll talk more about the terrestrial ecosystems of the Mid-Triassic later, with more talk of animals like Rauisuchians! Check back for our next post, featuring the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/France" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">French</span></a> site Grès à Voltzia!<br />
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<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/12176/Switzerland/Ticino/Lugano/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/12176.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Lugano on Dwellable</a></div>
Works Cited:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Bottjer, D. J. (2002). <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=pxlv0KbjfO4C&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=gres+a+voltzia&source=bl&ots=MydrguWx-7&sig=-vRwAQ-ZrGGu2rjCJSNJqTUe38I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rnSkU6j0NbHo8AHSr4GgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CGEQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q&f=false"><span style="color: yellow;">Exceptional Fossil Preservation: A Unique View on the Evolution of Marine Life</span></a>. New York: Columbia University Press.<br />
<br />
Braithwaite, C. J., & Zedef, V. Hydromagnesite Stromatolites and Sediments in an Alkaline Lake, Salda Golu, Turkey. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 66. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://jsedres.geoscienceworld.org/content/66/5/991.abstract<br />
<br />
Carroll, R. L. (1988). Vertebrate paleontology and evolution. New York, N.Y.: W.H. Freeman and Company.<br />
<br />
Fiorelli, Lucas E., Martín D. Ezcurra, E. Martín Hechenleitner, Eloisa Argañaraz, Jeremías R. A. Taborda, M. Jimena Trotteyn, M. Belén Von Baczko, and Julia B. Desojo. The oldest known communal latrines provide evidence of gregarism in Triassic megaherbivores. Scientific Reports. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/131128/srep03348/full/srep03348.html#ref8<br />
<br />
Hammer, WR., 1990: Thrinaxodon from Graphite Peak, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. Antarctic Journal of the United States, 255: 37-38<br />
<br />
<div>
Lautenschlager, S., & Desojo, J. B. Reassessment of the Middle Triassic Rauisuchian Archosaurs Ticinosuchus ferox and Stagonosuchus nyassicus. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225706328_Reassessment_of_the_Middle_Triassic_rauisuchian_archosaurs_Ticinosuchus_ferox_and_Stagonosuchus_nyassicus<br />
<br />
Mickelson, D. L. (2014, June 6). Triassic Tracks in the Moenkopi Formation. National Parks Service. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.nps.gov/care/naturescience/triassictrack.htm<br />
<br />
Morales, M. Terrestrial Fauna and Flora from the Triassic Moenkopi Formation of the Southwestern United States. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 22. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40024380?uid=3739568&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21104182410797<br />
<br />
Nesbitt, S. J. Arizonasaurus and Its Implications for Archosaur Divergence. Biological Sciences, 270. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/270/Suppl_2/S234.abstract<br />
<br />
Nesbitt, S. J. Osteology of the Middle Triassic Pseudosuchian Archosaur Arizonasaurus babbitti. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology, 17. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08912960500476499#.U6Ti2ZRdV1-<br />
<br />
Nesbitt, S. J., Barrett, P. M., Werning, S., Sidor, C. A., & Charig, A. J. The Oldest Dinosaur? A Middle Triassic Dinosauriform from Tanzania. Biology Letters, 9. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/9/1/20120949.abstract<br />
<br />
Owen, D., & Pemberton, D. (2005). Tasmanian devil: a unique and threatened animal. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin.<br />
<br />
Power, I. M., S. A. Wilson, G. M. Dipple, and G. Southam. Modern carbonate microbialites from an asbestos open pit pond, Yukon, Canada. Geobiology, 9. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1472-4669.2010.00265.x/abstract<br />
<br />
Reptiles. (n.d.). Monte San Giorgio. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.montesangiorgio.org/en/Monte-San-Giorgio/I-fossili/I-rettili.html<br />
<br />
Switek, B. (2008, April 1). Heterodonty where you least expect it. Laelaps. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2008/04/01/heterodont-archosaurs/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-37262125946548733202014-06-14T16:53:00.000-06:002015-04-25T15:32:07.910-06:00Animal Poop: More Fun, Tasty, and Aromatic Than You Thought!If you're a fan of Bob's Burgers, you might remember the Season 4 episode entitled "Ambergris" (check out the full episode <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/624150" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>), in which the Belcher children discover a strange, aromatic hunk of...something...on the beach. This something turns out to be an interesting byproduct produced by the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sperm%20Whale" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sperm whale</span></a>: and even a small hunk of it can be worth thousands of dollars to the right buyer. But what exactly is the stuff?<br />
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Much like the title of the episode, this hunk of surprisingly expensive junk is called "ambergris," and scientists believe its production is related to the sperm whale's diet. Sperm whales (<i>Physeter macrocephalus</i>) love to eat <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giant%20Squid" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giant squid</span></a> who, despite their relatively squishy nature, possess a very tough beak, a feature seen in other cephalopods such as <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Octopus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">octopi</span></a> and <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Nautilus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">nautilus</span></a>. In my opinion, the cephalopods can be some of the most fascinating animals ever. Period. We can delve deeper into why these creatures are so fascinating some other time, but for now, I leave you with this video of the ultimate in animal spy-gadgetry that would make even James Bond sea-sick with envy. (To see the full Ted-Talk that this video clip is taken from, click <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>.)<br />
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Another thing that I think is really cool about animals such as the octopus and the squid is that they have an extraordinarily tough beak. Partially composed of keratin (the same thing your fingernails, hair, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Porcupine" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">porcupine</span></a> quills, whale baleen plates, claws of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptiles</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammals</span></a>, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Horn" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">horns</span></a>,* etc.), this beak very closely resembles beaks seen in some types of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">birds</span></a>, and is often referred to as a "horny, parrot-like beak."** To truly understand the close resemblance, check out the pictures below!<br />
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Now, if you've ever tried to digest a bit of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Antelope" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">antelope</span></a> horn or <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Komodo%20Dragon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Komodo dragon</span></a> claw, you might have noticed that it doesn't go down very easy, and comes out the other end with even less easy involved.*** For <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Whale" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">whales</span></a>, most of the squid is pretty easily digestible, as they don't have to worry about scales or claws, feathers or hair. That is, other than that tough, keratinous beak. So what does the sperm whale do with this sharp section of squid structure? The answer to that is kind of cool, albeit still poorly understood.<br />
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Here's what scientists think happens. In order to keep the squid beak from harming the sperm whale from the inside, the whale somehow surrounds the tough bits of indigestible material (including the squid beak), to keep any sharp edges from being exposed. That part seems to be fairly widely agreed upon, although it seems that the exact methods are still not terribly well understood. Sources differ on how the ambergris leaves the whale's body, however. One <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-whale-waste-is-valuable/" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Scientific American article</span></a> states that the whale passes the ambergris with its <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Poop" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">feces</span></a> because "it smells more like the back end than the front" when it is first cast out of the body. However, <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/node/18363" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">other sources</span></a> explain that whale feces are liquidy, and hard matter could be difficult for the whale to process. Instead, these sources state that ambergris builds up in the whale over the course of its lifetime, and are released when the animal dies. <br />
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So why is ambergris so poorly understood? Well, researching whales, and sperm whales in particular, can be extraordinarily difficult. You need the proper equipment, you need the money, and you need to be able to find the whales. Sperm whales can also be more tough to study than other whales because of their natural behavior. They will dive thousands of feet deep in search of their prey, and spend most of their time beneath the ocean's surface. When they do protrude above the surface, it can still be difficult to find them, as they often don't protrude very far, and their spout of water released upon surfacing is much smaller than in many other whales.<br />
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Because of these and other factors, sperm whales remain poorly understood. Ambergris is only known to form in the sperm whale and the related pygmy sperm whale (<i>Kogia breviceps</i>), both of which are very hard to study. Furthermore, studies have found that ambergris is only found in 1-5% of these whales, making the substance even rarer still!**** Because it is so rare, no one has ever seen ambergris expelled from a sperm whale, and the association is only known because of dead sperm whale bodies with ambergris discovered inside.<br />
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In spite of this rarity, or perhaps because of it, ambergris is something of a hot commodity, and apparently has been for thousands of years. The Scientific American article quoted above cites the use of ambergris in many different ancient cultures, including the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ancient%20Egypt" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ancient Egyptians</span></a>, Middle Easterners, and the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/China" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Chinese</span></a>. It seems to have been regarded as a "cure-all" in some cultures, including <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/England" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Britain</span></a> during the Middle Ages. More recently, it was commonly used in perfumes, to fix odors and make the smells hang around for a longer period of time. Although synthesized replacements have taken the place of ambergris in many scenarios, there apparently still is quite a market for the stuff, and even a relatively small hunk of it can fetch a price of several thousand dollars from the right buyer! <br />
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As an interesting side-note, fossilized ambergris has been discovered in 1.75 million years old <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pleistocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pleistocene</span></a> deposits in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Italy" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Italy</span></a>. Some of these fossils, which apparently number more than 25, are even about two feet high and four feet wide! The abstract of the article (link <a href="http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/early/2013/07/30/G34731.1" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>) describe these fossils as "the only known example of Pleistocene sperm whale <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Coprolite" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">coprolites</span></a>," indicating that the authors of the article consider ambergris to be a poopy product of the sperm whale. Within the fossilized ambergris, parts of squid beak and "altered organic matter" have been found.<br />
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So yes, ladies, long story short, it is possible (although unlikely) that you have sprayed yourself with squid beak byproduct that was somehow expelled from a sperm whale at some point in your life. If you feel slightly foolish, just remember: you can be sure that you never drank any coffee that was created from the partially digested excretions that came from the hindquarters of the Asian palm <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Civet" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">civet</span></a> (<i>Paradoxurus hermaphroditus</i>), or freshened up with the assistance of the male musk of the the aptly named <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Musk%20Deer" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">musk deer</span></a> (<i>Moschus moschiferus</i>), a scent which the females of the species find most alluring. <br />
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Oh wait, you might have done both of those. Coffee made from animal poop....I have no doubt that Gene Belcher would love to have a cup. Just remember on your next date, it's not coffee breath or a lack of perfume you have to worry about: its civet-butt breath and a lack of musk deer scent and whale byproduct. You just better hope that there aren't any female musk deer around....<br />
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*Note that <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Antler" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">antlers</span></a> are different from horns, and are not made out of keratin. For a more in-depth discussion regarding the differences between antlers and horns, click <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2012/10/antlers-vs-horns-part-1-antlers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2012/10/antlers-vs-horns-part-2-horns.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>.<br />
**Not that kind of horny.<br />
***Based on speculation on the part of the author, and NOT personal experience. Please do not try this at home without the supervision of a parent or guardian who has been trained in such matters.<br />
****This statistic comes from the following source: <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/node/18363"><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.environment.gov.au/node/18363</span></a>. It doesn't actually say how this statistic was determined, but I assume from analysis of whale carcasses. I don't think many people have tried to look at the digestive systems of whales that are still alive. <br />
*****Yes that kind of horny.<br />
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Works Cited:<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ambergris. (n.d.). . Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.environment.gov.au/node/18363<br />
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Baldanza, A., Bizzarri, R., Famiani, F., Monaco, P., Pellegrino, R., & Sassi, P. Enigmatic, Biogenically Induced Structures in Pleistocene Marine Deposits: A First Record of Fossil Ambergris. Geology. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/early/2013/07/30/G34731.1<br />
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Bird, J. (2007, June 7). SPERM WHALES: The Deep Divers of the Ocean. . Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://www.oceanicresearch.org/education/wonders/spermwhales.htm<br />
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Clarke, M. R. The Identification of Cephalopod "Beaks" and the Relationship Between Beak Size and Total Body Weight. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), 8, 419-480.<br />
<br />
Clarkson, E. N. (1980). Invertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. London: British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. (Original work published 1979)<br />
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Graber, C. (2007, April 26). Strange but True: Whale Waste Is Extremely Valuable. Scientific American.<br />
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Kopi Luwak is the world's rarest gourmet coffee beverage.. (n.d.). Kopi Luwak is the world's rarest gourmet coffee beverage.. Retrieved June 10, 2014, from http://www.ravensbrew.com/NewFiles/kopiluwak.html<br />
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Nyambayar, B., Mix, H. & Tsytsulina, K. 2008. Moschus moschiferus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.iucnredlist.org</span></a>>. Downloaded on 10 June 2014.<br />
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Pygmy Sperm Whale. (n.d.). . Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://acsonline.org/fact-sheets/pygmy-sperm-whale/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-77978083811984399082014-06-06T17:18:00.000-06:002015-04-25T15:30:41.379-06:00Bi Di Miss American Pie: Number Two Greek and Latin Roots!A little while ago, I started a new series all about the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Greek%2FLatin%20Roots" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Latin and Greek roots</span></a> in the scientific names of different animals! <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2013/09/introduction-to-latin-and-greek-roots.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">IN THE LAST POST</span></a>, we examined animals with the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Greek" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Greek</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Latin" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Latin</span></a> roots for "one," and today, we are going to kick it up a notch: exactly one notch, to be precise! Today, we are going to examine the roots for the word "two!" Let's begin with the cardinal (i.e. one, two three, etc.) form in Greek! There are actually several roots that work here, but the one most commonly seen in binomial nomenclature is the root "di!" Let's DIve right in!<br />
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<li>Our first "di" today is a small flying creature called <i>Dimorphodon</i>, a member of the extinct group of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Reptile" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">reptiles</span></a> called <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pterosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">pterosaurs</span></a>. The name "<i>Dimorphodon</i>" comes from three roots, "di," "morph," and "don." "Di," of course, means "two." In this context, the root word "morph" means "form." In mythology and fantasty, a being that can take more than one form is often said to be able to morph their appearance. Finally, the root word "don" is one of my favorites (and is used a whole lot in giving animals their scientific names): it means "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Teeth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tooth</span></a>." Altogether now: two-form tooth. This name refers to the fact that <i>Dimorphodon</i> actually has two different types of teeth in its jaw. For <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammals</span></a>, that's nothing special, but amongst reptiles, that is pretty rare!</li>
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<li><i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dimetrodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dimetrodon</span></a></i>-another animal with two kinds of teeth! "Di" and "don" still mean the same thing as they did in <i>Dimorphodon</i> (above), but there is a new root in between: "metro." For this root, think of the term "metric." The name "<i>Dimetrodon</i>" actually means "two measures of teeth!" <i>Dimetrodon</i>'s two types of teeth would, in the groups that it is ancestral to, one day evolve to become the varied types of teeth that we see in the mouths of mammals! <i>Dimetrodon</i> is more closely related to mammals than it is to any group of living reptile, and all of us mammals did evolve from a <i>Dimetrodon</i>-like ancestor! So remember, if anyone ever tells you that <i>Dimetrodon</i> is a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dinosaur" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">dinosaur</span></a>, tell them that <i>Dimetrodon</i> actually lived around 40 million years before the first dinosaur ever walked the Earth! That'll show them.</li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRm_V8F7Sx2UZygTE9wEFxay_kuAZyVUZ78ovXJUfnn_n5m3ZHjUKOLlKTH0CD9KIL4OJ8AZgaEOO9NskMlnCfDY7-OaIw2oAfvR0o2YlmcoWYy9fGBurDNoxmjWNXqIDAIviIaacTQ/s1600/Dimetrodon+Vs+Eryops+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Denver+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRm_V8F7Sx2UZygTE9wEFxay_kuAZyVUZ78ovXJUfnn_n5m3ZHjUKOLlKTH0CD9KIL4OJ8AZgaEOO9NskMlnCfDY7-OaIw2oAfvR0o2YlmcoWYy9fGBurDNoxmjWNXqIDAIviIaacTQ/s1600/Dimetrodon+Vs+Eryops+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Denver+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dimetrodon</i> (left) attacks the primitive <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Amphibian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">amphibian</span></a> <i>Eryops</i>. Much like in the skull of <i>Dimorphodon</i>, you can clearly see the much larger teeth in the front of the skull and the smaller teeth in the back of the skull of <i>Dimetrodon</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<ul>
<li>Let's travel forward to the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Late%20Cretaceous" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Late Cretaceous Period</span></a>, time of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tyrannosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Tyrannosaurus</span></a></i> and <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Triceratops" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Triceratops</span></a></i>, to meet <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Didelphodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Didelphodon</span></a></i>, a primitive mammal about the size of the living <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Virginia%20Opossum" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Virginia opossum</span></a>! As a matter of fact, it is from the opossum that <i>Didelphodon</i> gets its name: "<i>Didelphodon</i>" translates to "opossum tooth," as <i>Didelphis</i> is the genus name for the Virginia opossum and several related species of opossum! In turn, "<i>Didelphis</i>" means "double womb," which presumably refers to the fact that the opossum, like all <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Marsupial" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">marsupials</span></a>, has its internal reproductive tracts where the baby will develop for a bit, and its external pouch, where the baby will develop until full term. </li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>A fourth animal with "two" and "tooth" in its name is <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Diprotodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Diprotodon</span></a></i>! The middle root, "pro," in this name means "forward," like the word "proceed." So the name "<i>Diprotodon</i>" actually means "two forward teeth." A quick examination of the skull of this massive mammal quickly reveals why! Although it looks like it might be some sort of ungodly large <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rodent" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rodent</span></a>, <i>Diprotodon</i> is actually a <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hippo" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hippopotamus</span></a>-sized <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Wombat" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">wombat</span></a>, the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Record%20Breaker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">largest marsupial known to have walked the Earth</span></a>!</li>
</ul>
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<div>
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<ul>
<li><i>Diceratops</i> is a genus of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ceratopsian" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">ceratopsian</span></a> dinosaur that is often considered to actually be a <i>Triceratops.</i> The name, which means "two-horned face," was later discovered to already belong to a type of insect, and changed to the name <i>Nedoceratops</i>. Some other paleontologists believe that <i>Nedoceratops</i> is really the same animal as <i>Triceratops</i>, but I don't really know enough about <i>Nedoceratops</i> to have an informed opinion on the matter. However, paleontologist Jack Horner believes that <i>Nedoceratops</i> is an intermediate growth form between <i>Triceratops</i> and <i>Torosaurus</i>, and since I don't agree with his ideas of <i>Triceratops</i> ontogeny and that I think <i>Triceratops</i> and <i>Torosaurus</i> are definitely distinct dinosaurs, that leads me to suspect that <i>Nedoceratops</i> is more likely distinct, and certainly doesn't bridge the gap between <i>Triceratops</i> and <i>Torosaurus</i>.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>The name of <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Diplodocus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Diplodocus</span></a></i>, which means "double beam" originates from the two rows of chevron that are on the underside of the animal. This was originally thought to be a feature unique to <i>Diplodocus</i>, a defining characteristic that would set it apart from other closely related sauropods. Since <i>Diplodocus</i> was named by <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologist</span></a> <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/O.C.%20Marsh" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Othniel Charles Marsh</span></a> in the late 1800s, this feature has since been discovered on a number of other <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Sauropod" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">sauropods</span></a>, including <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Barosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Barosaurus</span></a></i>, also from the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Morrison%20Formation" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Morrison Formation</span></a>, like <i>Diplodocus</i>.</li>
</ul>
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<div>
<ul>
<li><i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Dilophosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Dilophosaurus</span></a></i>, one of the stars of the original <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Jurassic%20Park" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Jurassic Park</span></a> movie, gets its name from the two crests on its head. Last time, we met <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Monolophosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Monolophosaurus</span></a></i>, which means "single-crested lizard." Therefore, Dilophosaurus means "two-crested lizard!" </li>
</ul>
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<div>
While it is the Greek cardinal root for "two" that is used most frequently in binomial nomenclature, it is the Latin root that is most often used for multiples (i.e. once, twice, thrice, etc.), the root "bi." You can probably think of several words right off the top of your head that use this root! In fact, the word "biped," used to describe creatures that walk on two feet (as opposed to, say, a quadruped), comes from the two roots "bi" and "ped," with "ped" meaning "foot" in Latin. So literally, "biped" means "two feet!" Let's look at a few more!</div>
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<ul>
<li><i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Marshosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Marshosaurus bicentesmus</span></a></i> - A theropod dinosaur from the Morrison Formation (one who has received "Full-Post Status," as you can see by clicking <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2013/07/meet-marshosaurus-morrisons-mysterious.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>). The exact relationships of <i>Marshosaurus</i> to other theropods isn't exactly clear, but some people think it might even be some sort of primitive coelurosaur, while others think it is more closely related to <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Megalosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Megalosaurus</span></a></i> and kin. Regardless of its phylogenetic relationships, the name of <i>Marshosaurus</i> is quite exciting! The genus name "<i>Marshosaurus</i>" honors the famous paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh, who did a lot of work in the Morrison Formation. The species name "bicentesmus" refers to the fact that the species was described in 1976, the bicentennial of the United States. The bicentennial is, of course, a 200 year anniversary, and the "bi" in the name distinguishes a 200 year anniversary from a 100 year anniversary, or a centennial.</li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PPHA9mqnaKseT2Db6hdqbswZ6YG4y7OseFsEmAJUjEn0emJkdK3eFJHnAOD3SpCzh6tjs5jp90QY0t6Xl0nB-ySCSt47qAjK0iQdUBQBS1ndAx6DqZre5B0ZnFODmhvfRxGJyfUiow/s1600/Marshosaurus+bicentismus+Maxilla+on+Display+in+the+Paleo+Lab+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Denver+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PPHA9mqnaKseT2Db6hdqbswZ6YG4y7OseFsEmAJUjEn0emJkdK3eFJHnAOD3SpCzh6tjs5jp90QY0t6Xl0nB-ySCSt47qAjK0iQdUBQBS1ndAx6DqZre5B0ZnFODmhvfRxGJyfUiow/s1600/Marshosaurus+bicentismus+Maxilla+on+Display+in+the+Paleo+Lab+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Denver+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="288" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are two shots of a specimen of <i>Marshosaurus</i> that were on display in the lab at the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/DMNS" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Denver Museum of Nature and Science</span></a> last year. This first picture is the right maxilla, which would have made up part of the front section of the animals snout.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOpAST3n5CDHJs93FTSL3oU-9yJVhmpipDFI8z5ulj79A3bKRbS6ofguDmd1P_GtHA4UjIg7WXbxnwxTjtzuwM5orK7HvWlfK2kU5E-Cp4KcuS0NF-OqPREqcT5eH07viKDLCdYQATw/s1600/Marshosaurus+bicentismus+Partial+Vertebral+Column+(Backbone)+and+Ribs+on+Display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Denver+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOpAST3n5CDHJs93FTSL3oU-9yJVhmpipDFI8z5ulj79A3bKRbS6ofguDmd1P_GtHA4UjIg7WXbxnwxTjtzuwM5orK7HvWlfK2kU5E-Cp4KcuS0NF-OqPREqcT5eH07viKDLCdYQATw/s1600/Marshosaurus+bicentismus+Partial+Vertebral+Column+(Backbone)+and+Ribs+on+Display+at+the+Denver+Museum+of+Nature+and+Science+in+Denver+Colorado+Photo+Credit+Zack+Neher.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we have more of the same specimen, on display at the same time and the same place. You can see several vertebrae and ribs in this shot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<ul>
<li><i>Baeolophus bicolor</i> - This is the scientific name of the tufted titmouse, a small woodland <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Bird" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">bird</span></a> native to much of the eastern half of the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/United%20States" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">United States</span></a>. These little birds live in holes in trees that have been abandoned by <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Woodpecker" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">woodpeckers</span></a>, and are closely related to chickadees and, of course, the other titmice. I couldn't figure out what the genus name "<i>Baeolophus</i>" means, but it is pretty apparent that the species name "<i>bicolor</i>" refers to the fact that this little bird is gray on its back, and white on its underside. Some of the other species in the genus, such as the juniper titmouse (<i>Baeolophus ridgwayi</i>), are simply all gray. </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><i>Diceros bicornis</i> - Here we have the scientific name of the black <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Rhino" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">rhinoceros</span></a>, a "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Critically%20Endangered" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Critically Endangered</span></a>" species of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">African</span></a> rhino. According to some sources, the black rhino often prefers to eat <i>Acacia </i>leaves, presumably employing its prehensile upper lip to avoid the plants thorns. The black rhino has pretty poor vision, with much better auditory and olfactory sensing capabilities. Humans are easily the most dangerous threat to the black rhinoceros, with <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Lion" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">lions</span></a> and the spotted <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Hyena" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">hyena</span></a> occasionally taking young black rhinos as prey, and even more rarely attacking adults. The scientific name of the black rhinoceros literally means "two-horn two-horn." As we have already established, both "di" and "bi" are roots that mean two. Both "ceros" and "corn" are roots that refer to horns: think "<i>Triceratops</i>" for ceros (three-horned face), and "unicorn" for corn (one-horn). </li>
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Works Cited:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
Emslie, R. 2012. Diceros bicornis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/">www.iucnredlist.org</a>>. Downloaded on 27 May 2014.<br />
<br />
Kurnit, J. 2009. "Diceros bicornis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed May 27, 2014 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Diceros_bicornis/<br />
<br />
Stokes, D. W., & Stokes, L. Q. (2010). The Stokes field guide to the birds of North America. New York: Little, Brown.<br />
<br />
Tufted Titmouse. (n.d.). . Retrieved May 17, 2014, from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/tufted_titmouse/id<br />
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Photo Credit from the picture at the top of the post: <span style="color: yellow;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJma8pVAvH4" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">www.youtube.com</a></span> , <span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAcQjB0" href="http://www.lightholder.net/tea/" style="background-color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">www.lightholder.net</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.englishmoviez.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers/" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">www.englishmoviez.com</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://riclops.com/2012/01/17/darth-bane-rule-of-two/" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">riclops.com</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electron_shell_002_Helium_-_no_label.svg" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">commons.wikimedia.org</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SW_binary_sunset.png" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">en.wikipedia.org</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://bicycletutor.com/guide/" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">bicycletutor.com</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAcQjB0" href="http://www.best-artificial.com/product/large-35cm-14-potted-artificial-boston-green-fern-plant-silk-display-38-leaves/" style="background-color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">www.best-artificial.com</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://theawesomer.com/hot-toys-batman-robin-1966/252565/" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">theawesomer.com</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://collider.com/dark-knight-rises-tale-of-two-cities/" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">collider.com</a>, </span><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.vibe.com/article/juice-crew-2-chainz" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">www.vibe.com</a>, </span><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://buffyfest.blogspot.com/2012/03/champion-announced-march-madness-whedon.html" style="background-color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">buffyfest.blogspot.com</span></a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426857547694227921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3337934148482955683.post-75986075114641071202014-05-26T21:29:00.002-06:002015-04-25T15:29:21.949-06:00Thorny Trees and 20 Inch Tongues: A Case of Coevolution<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A few days ago, I saw a very spiky-looking <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Tree" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">tree</span></a> on the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/BOP%20Route" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Bird of Prey Route</span></a> near my house. A few weeks ago, I saw another tree, much larger than this one, along the banks of Boulder Creek that had some enormous thorns on its branches as well, some of them easily six inches long, and super sharp on the end! I don't know for certain what kind of tree this, or the Boulder Creek tree, is, but a good candidate I think is the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Honey%20Locust" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">honey locust</span></a> (<i>Gleditsia triacanthos</i>), or some other tree closely related to the honey locust. Below is the picture of the tree that I took on the Bird of Prey Route.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi798jqFPqXiexNXFXEjzZUxbMlmbUqDxxCUltqOa7bJ5T1ucQ6vFKomJnHRk3jFWI4Bcaub4S_rn-Fw_IbRaQOCHT_O0HIKNPzr17zLqQ6vCnIby5Y3nPIzaoulZ-5yOZTI5n9WyIxYA/s1600/spiny+tree+on+the+bird+of+prey+route+in+superior+boulder+colorado+photo+credit+zack+neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi798jqFPqXiexNXFXEjzZUxbMlmbUqDxxCUltqOa7bJ5T1ucQ6vFKomJnHRk3jFWI4Bcaub4S_rn-Fw_IbRaQOCHT_O0HIKNPzr17zLqQ6vCnIby5Y3nPIzaoulZ-5yOZTI5n9WyIxYA/s1600/spiny+tree+on+the+bird+of+prey+route+in+superior+boulder+colorado+photo+credit+zack+neher.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
And here is the picture that I took on my iPhone at Boulder Creek of this tree. The thorns look pretty similar to those of the honey locust, and I think that the trunk of the tree looks pretty similar, too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmatWBU4UbDxLCVWsHkQFUr_5eeDuhBdJsdLyvaR4WHxzFQsz1rL1hOKrBDmvv5ArABZSv_SJssjYnhpAaVf1kLLkzym1K8YRYac6Bu9TEyJiAUeHpwu191Y0wnJh5IYAi4MsQSYcnQ/s1600/possible+honey+locust+tree+along+the+banks+of+boulder+creek+in+boulder+colorado+photo+credit+zack+neher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmatWBU4UbDxLCVWsHkQFUr_5eeDuhBdJsdLyvaR4WHxzFQsz1rL1hOKrBDmvv5ArABZSv_SJssjYnhpAaVf1kLLkzym1K8YRYac6Bu9TEyJiAUeHpwu191Y0wnJh5IYAi4MsQSYcnQ/s1600/possible+honey+locust+tree+along+the+banks+of+boulder+creek+in+boulder+colorado+photo+credit+zack+neher.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
Now why do these trees have such huge thorns? When it comes to nature, everything evolves with a purpose. There is no reason why a living organism would evolve something without a purpose, especially something as involved as giant, six-inch long thorns. The question is, what purpose do these thorns serve? Well that's a darn good question, and I am very pleased you asked. Much like the "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Thagomizer" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">thorns</span></a>" that you can see on the tail of a <i><a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Stegosaurus" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Stegosaurus</span></a></i>, they likely were to help keep the organism from being consumed. We see similar thorns on the branches of some trees in the genus <i>Acacia</i> in <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Africa" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Africa</span></a> today. There, the thorns help protect the tree from attacks from one of the largest plant predators alive today, the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giraffe" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giraffe</span></a>. This tree....well, suffice it to say that you probably won't see many activists hugging this tree. <br />
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"Oh, maybe these thorns look deceptively big," you're thinking. Wrong. These thorns do not look deceptively big. If anything, they look deceptively small. These thorns are frickin' HUGE.</div>
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So the real question is, why the long thorns, Goldilocks? Many <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Paleontologist" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">paleontologists</span></a> believe that, during the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Pleistocene" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Pleistocene Epoch</span></a> (which lasted from between around 2.5 MYA to about 12,000 years ago), many of <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/North%20America" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">North America</span></a>'s mega-herbivores, everything ranging from <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammoth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammoths</span></a> and <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mastodon" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mastodons</span></a>, to <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Giant%20Ground%20Sloth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">giant ground sloths</span></a> and the North American <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Camel" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">camel</span></a> <i>Camelops</i>, could have been preying upon these trees. Selective pressures slowly caused these trees to evolve protection against these <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Mammal" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">mammalian</span></a> mega-herbivores. Mastodons especially had very robust <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Teeth" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">teeth</span></a>, which would almost certainly have made them excellent bark-munchers.</div>
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In Africa, the acacia tree, also known as the whistling thorn, the thorntree, or (my personal favorite) the wattle, has a very similar defense. Unlike the honey locust of North America, however, the acacia tree still has to deal with intense predation today, and from a wide variety of herbivores, everything from <a href="http://www.thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Gerenuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">gerenuk</span></a> to giraffe, <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Elephant" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">elephants</span></a> to more giraffes.</div>
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You see, the giraffes love the acacia tree. If giraffes had Facebook, then they all would like the "I <3 Acacia Trees" page. I remember reading somewhere that they can eat up to 60 or 65 pounds of acacia leaves per day. (To understand this, try imagining a large hunk of butter that weighs 60 or 65 pounds. Now you have an idea of how many pounds that is.) They love it so much that, if the acacia tree hadn't adapted to keep up with the continual browsing pressure, the giraffes might have loved the acacia trees to death! In response, the acacia trees <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Convergent%20Evolution" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">convergently</span></a> evolved these sharp thorns, just like the honey locust tree in North America. (We talk about convergent evolution quite a lot as it is one of my favorite topics, so click <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Convergent%20Evolution" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a> to learn more about it!) </div>
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The giraffes love the acacia, though. They aren't going to give up on those lovely leaves, just like that! So while these acacia trees evolved their thorns to protect their leaves, the giraffes evolved something spectacular: a prehensile tongue! Don't believe me? Well, one of my favorite things about the <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/CMZ" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Cheyenne Mountain Zoo</span></a> is that you can feed the giraffes there. And guess what: their tongues are HUGE! Below, I have a video of my good friend <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Masaki%20Kleinkopf" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Masaki Kleinkopf</span></a> also feeding the giraffes! Check out my gangsta hoodie, yo. </div>
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So, yeah. Suffice it to say, giraffes have frickin' long tongues. And they use these TWENTY INCH LONG TONGUES to help circumnavigate through the acacia tree's poky and spiny maze of thorns to reach the leaves! The acacia tree wasn't going to just take this lying down, though: no giraffe is going to be feeding on my leaves, yo! So the acacia tree adapted again. This time, by employing the use of tannins.<br />
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Long story short, tannins are used by humans in a variety of ways, including tanning, food processing, and making cocoa and wine. They also apparently taste terrible. Don't ask me, I've never tried it, but then again I don't have a 20 inch prehensile tongue, so it's a whole different ballgame.*</div>
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Not only do tannins taste terrible, but they inhibit the digestion of the leaf matter in a number of nasty ways, none of which would be all that fun for the giraffe. So when a giraffe starts munching on the leaves of the acacia tree, that tree will release tannins to make the leaves taste like....well, leather I suppose. (Again, haven't tried either.) This tannin releasing is a pretty cool adaptation all on its lonseome. The giraffe begins to move off to another acacia tree nearby. However, if it's within 50 yards or so (especially downwind) of the original, now tanniny acacia, then the giraffe is out of luck: the nearby acacias react in turn, releasing their own tannins, and rendering their leaves almost indigestible to the giraffes, as well! I would imagine that, because of this, giraffes have in turn developed the behavior of moving upwind as they eat, and a cursory glance over the Internet indicates that this does seem to be a behavior observed in giraffes! <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/search/label/Coevolution" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Coevolution</span></a> at its finest!</div>
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Make sure to check back soon for our next episode in our coevolution series, all about a very fun little squirrel! See you then! In the meantime, you can read about what coevolution actually is, by clicking <a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2014/03/eye-black-what-works-for-football.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a>.</div>
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*The second baseball metaphor that I believe has been used on this blog. Refer to "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2013/07/23-fact-tuesday-prairie-falcon-red.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">23-Fact Tuesday: Prairie Falcon, Red-Tailed Hawk, and Great-Horned Owl at the Dino Hotel</span></a>" and "<a href="http://thenaturalworld1.blogspot.com/2014/03/eye-black-what-works-for-football.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">Eye Black: What Works for Football Players Works for the Cheetah</span></a>" to learn more about this sport. </div>
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Works Cited:</div>
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Andersen, K. (n.d.). No Place to Run, No Place to Hide. . Retrieved July 24, 2013, from http://www.gardensmart.com/?p=articles&title=Acacia_Defense_Living_Desert<br />
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Hughes, S. (n.d.). Alarm Scent Warns Other Trees to Kill. . Retrieved July 24, 2013, from http://spectregroup.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/acacia-self-defense/<br />
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Krulwich, R. (2008, February 22). Mastodons in Manhattan: A Botanical Puzzle. . Retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2008/02/22/19171697/mastodons-in-manhattan-a-botanical-puzzle<br />
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Little Jr., E. L. (n.d.). Digital Representations of Tree Species Range Maps from "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr. (and other publications). . Retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/little/</div>
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Locust Tree Thorns. (n.d.). . Retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://treekb.com/locust-tree-thorns/</div>
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