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Dinosaur Biographies
Tyrannosaurus-Cryolophosaurus
Page 10
Tyrannosaurus:
The Tyrannosaurus is one of the most famous dinosaurs of them all. From storybooks to kids drawings, to professional
art and even to some of the most famous worldwide hits of all time, such as Jurassic Park, this creature is worshipped
and revered as the titan of the universe. All we know of this thirteen-foot-tall
and forty-foot-long carnivore is taken from seven incomplete fossil finds, and dozens of assorted remains. One fossil measures
the owner Tyrannosaurus as being sixteen feet tall and fifty feet long, and some may have outweighed modern elephants!
Fossil discoveries are littered throughout North America, in Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, South Dakota and as far north as Alberta,
Canada. The Tyrannosaurus
was built for hunting, not scavenging; its eyes faced forward, not to the side as with most other carnivorous dinosaurs; this
allowed for depth and distance to be gauged. Also, the strong yet lightweight skull made for a formidable attack, as well
as did the mighty jaw (the jaw had specialized hinges which could allow the bottom jaw to be lowered unusually low to take
in large bites of meat) and tiny forearms, which probably acted as hooks to secure struggling prey. The legs were extremely
muscular; walking, it could pace at four to five miles an hour, and could top thirty when running!
Apatosaurus: The earth violently shudders as the
moving fortress thunders past; dozens upon dozens of majestic sauropods lumber past, groaning and gawking in the hot afternoon
sun. Their long, thick tails that ended into a whip held relatively stiff behind them; muscles attached to the tail bones
kept it rigid, but were also able to send it in lashes against a predator, delivering stinging blows that could cut deep into
flesh; thirty foot whips, their eye-tearing tails are; the tails also helped to keep balance. Pillars
of iron are held straight underneath them, with blunt toes at the feet. The chest is gargantuan, as if it were a vat, and
yet a vat it is, a pot protecting the massive internal organs and the constantly pumping heart. The ribs are like cages, and
the vertebrae are tall and straight, filled with hollow gaps to make them lighter, but yet not making them weaker As they
march through the forest, a trail of destruction is left in their wake: fallen, bare trees, trampled foliage, a brown, naked
path etched through the forest, tell-tale signs of the dinosaurs. The Apatosaurs
feed day and night, for they are so huge food needs to be taken in constantly; to allow time for sleep, they swallow their
food whole, letting gastrolithsswallowed stonesmush up the tough plant fibers within their bowels. Their necks reach high,
but because of the weight and structure of the neck bones, they have a limited raising range for their long, stretching necks;
for some, they cannot lift the thickest regions of their necks above shoulder-height! Atop the neck, which is thicker where
it connects to the massive body, narrow at the top, a small, narrow and slender head rests delicately. The skull tapers to
form a shallow mouth lined with tiny, delicate teeth at the front of the jaws for stripping foliage off the trees.Their name literally means Deceitful Reptile, although thats certainly not the case! They
were seventy feet long from head to tip-o-the-tail, and weighed over 30 tons! Their hips were the highest parts of their bodies
except for the head perched atop the neck, and the height of the beastly sauropod was at the least twelve feet! Constantly feeding day and night, the Apatosaurus can weigh up to the immense weight
of 5 adult elephants! First called Brontosaurus, it was later changed to Apatosaurus because of one of the most
celebrated accidents in paleontology history! The head of a Camarosaurus was landed atop the skeleton of the Apatosaurus.
When the mistake was discovered, the actual skull was found, and the name became Apatosaurus. This
monstrous herbivore is one of the most famous sauropods, and definitely the most studied. However, originally there were many
misconceptions about Apatosaurus. For instance, it was thought to have dragged its tail, but there are no tail marks
along trackways, and no wear or damage to tail bones from being tangled in plants or caught in cracks in rocks or dragged
over harsh, broken landscapes. Another misconception was that the Apatosaurus spent most of its time in the water;
but there are no adaptations on the Apatosaurus for this behavior, and trackways
are found in semi-arid areas where water isnt so overly abundant. They were also thought to have their legs pushed out to
the side, placing them in a sprawled position, but trackways show that the legs were held right under the bulk of the dinosaur,
and it probably walked as gracefully as modern elephants. This monstrous
herbivore is one of the most famous sauropods, and definitely the most studied. However, originally there were many misconceptions
about Apatosaurus. For instance, it was thought to have dragged its tail, but there are no tail marks along trackways,
and no wear or damage to tail bones from being tangled in plants or caught in cracks in rocks or dragged over harsh, broken
landscapes. Another misconception was that the Apatosaurus spent most of its time in the water; but there are no adaptations
on the Apatosaurus for this behavior, and trackways are found in semi-arid
areas where water isnt so overly abundant. They were also thought to have their legs pushed out to the side, placing them
in a sprawled position, but trackways show that the legs were held right under the bulk of the dinosaur, and it probably walked
as gracefully as modern elephants.Adult Apatosaurs had few enemies, but the babies were easy prey to any lurking predators. Trackways of these
migrating sauropods show that the young were kept to the inside of the herd, protected from the outside by the larger, grown-up
sauropods.
Triceratops: Triceratops body
was massive; it had a barrel-like ribcage and the shortest tail one could dream up! It stood balanced on stocky legs, but
legs held up with bones like that of iron: firm, mighty, unyielding. This fact, along with the front legs being shorter than
the back, probably slowed Triceratops down a good nine yards; its main forte of defense was definitely not speed, but
rather associated with the three horns atop its head the creature is so famously remembered for. However, contrary to belief, not all specimens of Triceratops had three horns. In fact, in some cases the nasal
horn wasnt only blunt, but non-existent! However, the large brow horns adoring above its eyes are always fully developed and
intriguing, charmed with beauty, magnificence and danger. The brow horns probably had a horny covering, and the base of the
horns was actually hollow! This open space is referred to as a sinus; it helps to cushion the brain and acts as a shock absorber
to the horns. Such sinuses can be found in goats, sheep and even cows! Healed
wounds in the frill show that that Triceratops had a bitter temperament. It probably fought against others of its kind,
warring over females, territory or leadership. Another possibility for the horns is the Triceratops getting out of
an unlucky run-in with a starving predator. The frill atop a Triceratops
is quite something to be marveled at. Broad and round with thick bones and no fenestrae, it is almost entirely different from
the frills of other Ceratopsians. This might have helped with regulating body temperature, and then again maybe it was so
thick to protect the Triceratops from predators or even other Triceratops. But if the Triceratops are
a cocky group, maybe they were used for bluffing against each other or possibly enemies, or even attracting a mate if charm
and all else failed; its easy to say the Triceratops probably wasnt the most romantic! Their beaks were large and powerful, even scissor-like, probably able to cut right through a human arm! Each jaw was
lined with tightly knit teeth used for grinding up the food. The Triceratops also wasnt the brightest bulb on the dinosaurian
tree; its brain was small for its size, even smaller than those of duckbilled dinosaurs or carnivores.
Pachycephalosaurus: While the Pachycephalosaurids themselves are lightly known, nearly all others
are forgotten compared to the largest of them all, Pachycephalosaurus, whose remains were first found in Montana, United
States. Seen as fearful and cuddly in childrens picture books, small yet deadly in the movie Jurassic Park, it has
a full range of ideals such as looks, behavior and attitude surround it. Known only by a number of large domed skull roofs and a nearly complete skull, Pachycephalosaurus name means
thick-headed lizard, and this doesnt mean it was stupid and dull (although it very well might have been). Instead, the name
refers to the thick round upside-down bowl of bone resting atop its head, whichat the mosthas been found at nine inches
thick! This dome might have been used for courtship, such as who has the
biggest dome? Or maybe it was for head-butting contests to determine who gets the female or the territory. With such a thick
skull, a quick run and a slam into a threatening animal would give a ruthless-if not fatalblow to the victim, maybe breaking
bones or bruising/tearing open organs. The snout stuck out, unlike all
other Pachycephalosaurids, giving it a hazy pig-like profile. The snout was covered with sharp spikes and dull horns, as well
as was the base of the dome skull. The teeth were simple, no more than
little triangular blades used to gently squash food. Pachycephalosaurus probably had a diet of mainly soft vegetation.
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*While reading the biographies, keep in mind that God created each and every
one of these, and one day we'll spend eternity alongside them in the Kingdom of Heaven. How could you not be astounded and
compelled by the intricate design inlaid in all these creatures? Dinosaurs are, in a sense, the fingerprints of God!
Megalosaurus: The ground shakes
as it walksliterally! Weighing over one ton, its very presence makes itself known at the quivering of puddles of water. Flocks
of birds lift from the trees to take flight in terror as it charges through the undergrowth, greedily seeking out its next
meal. The monstrous, dagger-teeth hidden within its mouth are stained with blood from a dead Hadrosaur, but some are missing
from the brawl. Its teeth are often torn out during its battles, but its powerful jaw doesnt mind; more will grow in, and
the pain is lost in the sensation and joy of the kill! It ate anything it could find, and wouldnt pass up a free meal from
a dead dinosaur. For many years, any theropod fossils found were deemed as Megalosaurus. Such famous dinosaurs
as Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus and Dilophosaurus were thrown into the family Megalosauridae, giving it the humorous
title of waste basket family! However, such incorrect placements have been changed, such as Tyrannosaurus now resides
in the Tyrannosauridae family.
Edmontonia: Edmontonia's back
is covered with an array of small, flat keeled (ridged) plates, plates that beat off the wayward sun and sent the glare back
to where it came. Its neck and shoulders were plastered with larger keeled plates, and gruesome spines probed forward from
the shoulders, so gruesome they could gouge and destroy; more spines ran along the sides of its body, tapering in size to
nothing back near the wide hips. The spines and spikes along the side of the creature create quite a terrifying posture: it
appears short and wide, armed with protection and deadly weaponry, nothing to be tangled with. Edmontonia probably
used its spikes to fight off predators and offenders. They were also probably used in social structures: the males probably
fought for territory and females, and the gargantuan forward-pointing spikes would be harmonizing in a shoving contest between
larger males.
Deinonychus: Deinonychus
was most likely a pack hunter, taking down large prey while coordinating their efforts. They were powerful, bristling with
muscles, the terrors of their times. A large head rest upon their shoulders, with gruesome teeth arching back towards the
back of the mouth; these backward-facing teeth helped to hold strangling prey and to rip flesh off food. Long arms dangled
down, each with a three-fingered hand, each finger ending in a bloodcurdling, nasty claw. The fingers were flexible, showing
that they were probably used to attack and eat fallen victims. The femur (thigh bone) is smaller than the shin bones (tibia
and fibula), which is common among Dromaeosaurids, indicating a knack for awesomely fast speed. The back feetthe ones which
were used for walkingare tridactyl, which means the carnivore walked on only three toes. One of the features that is so memorable from the movie Jurassic Park and a hallmark
for contemporary dinosaurs is the slashing claw on each foot. Sickly, large, and sharply-pointed, it curved in an arch and
was held off the ground while running/walking to protect it from wear and tear. This claw could be flicked easily, tearing
into flesh while ripping back; a good swipe into the gut, then a rip, could spill the innards of any animal. Other Dromaeosaurids
had this feature, such as the famed Velociraptor and Dromaeosaurus. Thin rods of bone ran along the vertebrae
of the tail, holding it stiff off the ground. However, where the tail connects to the body, it is flexible, allowing for it
to sway up, down, right or left, in whatever direction, to help balance the animal during daily life or even a vicious assault.
Deinonychus might have hunted in packs. One very important discovery was the remains of several Deinonychus
and a single Tenontosaurus, tangled together in the grip of desperate battle. This remarkable find is a powerful slab
of evidence stacked in the favor of Deinonychus hunting in packs, in this case working together to take down a Tenontosaurus.
Deinonychus might have grasped its prey with its hand claws and slashed at the underbelly with its curved, ghastly
foot claw. There would be more success of bringing down large prey if hunting together rather than in packs.
Chasmosaurus: The Chasmosaurus
has a huge frillcrestrising above its head, stretching into the sky, with monstrous fenestraeholesin the frill. To gaze upon it head-on sends shivers and gut-wrenching nausea into any offender of this marvelous creature.
From above, the crest is seen as heart-shaped, with small, stubby horns pointing vividly from along the edges of the frill.
In fact, its very nameChasmosauruscomes from the monstrous frill resting atop its skull, literally meaning Chasm
Reptile. Riding up towards the eyes, three horns adorn its face. The nasalnosehorn is small and blunt, merely decorative it
would seem, but the two horns furrowed above the brow are meant for serious business. They are long and built, powerful in
every dimension; a mere jab would cut right through even the thickest flesh, and to be near them brings about goose bumps
(some skeletons and fossils of the skull show the brow horns as being small, like the nasal horn, although this may be contributed
to the sex of the Chasmosaurus). Its skin is pebbly, rough, thick as if double-layered leather. Circular tuberculesbumpsrun
in regularly spaced rows, with smaller tubercules in between the slender rows.
Cryolophosaurus: To many one of the strangest carnivores out there, even surpassing Dilophosaurus, whose twin
parallel crests atop its head attracted a lot of attention when the movie Jurassic Park came out (although its frill
and spitting poison has no scientific background), is the less-known Cryolophosaurus, found in the barren colds and
wastes of the Transantarctic Mountains. The distinguishing factor on Cryolophosaurus
is the pair of backwards-sweeping crests of bone protruding from the brow above the eyes. Small horns were adjacent to these
crests, and the lacrimal bone running the width of the head to between the eyes formed them. Seeing as this crest is delicate,
many believe that Cryolophosaurus was not a hunter, but a scavenger. When attacking another dinosaur, there would be
lots of strenuous effort and might thrown into the action, and the frailty of the complete crest could soon become a shattered
crest. But if Cryolophosaurus was a scavenger, it would easily be able to protect its crest while feeding. As for the
purpose of the strange crest, it probably served a courtship decoration or for signaling to other members of its kind. Cryolophosaurus
is an amazing dinosaur, a fine display of Gods wonder and handiwork in His creation.
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