Getting back to the beginning of Dinosaurs in the Late Triassic. Eoraptor, Herrerasaurus and Tawa Hallae are among the earliest known Dinosaurs. Which reminds me, I need to follow-up with Nate Smith, Associate Curator of the Dinosaur Institute at the Natural History Museum of LA. During my visit in April of 2017, I was able to see a recently recovered fossil of a possible new Dinosaur. As I have mentioned there is a great deal of work to remove the fossil from the rock at the lab, document your findings from the examination and publish them. Hopefully I’ll have some great news to share soon from that discovery.
Hobbes (the little T-Rex) had questions regarding the Dinosauromorphs and Crocodylomorpha. There were many prehistoric animals that looked like Dinosaurs on the outside but studies of their bone structures indicated they were more related to other animals. Like Saltoposuchus which looks very much like a slender dinosaur. However, the bones along the back and wrist share features of crocodiles. Therefore, Saltoposuchus is classified as a Crocodylomorpha. Marasuchus the size of a large rat or squirrel is a Dinosaur cousin referred to as a Dinosauromorph. While they have many similarities to Dinosaurs, they are diverse family that includes Lagerpeton, Lewisuchus and Pseudolagosuchus.
Gary & Cindy (the Brontosaurs) were curious about Prosauropods of the Late Triassic Period like Plateosaurus. While Prosauropods were much smaller than Sauropods, Plateosaurus being relatively large for its group at 33 feet in length and 5 feet high at the hip, they are early cousins and possibly the ancestors of the Brontosaurs we know from the Late Jurassic Period and the other Titanosaurs. Plateosaurus walked on its hind legs. Its front limbs had claws that could grasp plants.
Marc & Stephanie (the Triceratops & Stegosaur) are learning about the early Ornithischians of the Late Triassic – Marc’s & Stephanie’s ancestors. Stephanie prefers the Middle Jurassic through the Early Cretaceous Period when her Stegosauria Family roamed the Earth like Huayangosaurus, Dacentrurus and Kentrosaurus. Huayangosaurus the most primitive Stegosaur had more spike like amour along its back plus two large spikes one projecting from each front hip! Dacentrurus was actually the first of the Stegosaurus family to be discovered in the 1870’s. Kentrosaurus about ½ the size of Stegosaurus with much smaller plates that transitioned to spikes along the back. It shared the massive side spikes of Huayangosaurus.
However, Marc’s favorite is the Late Cretaceous Period. The Triceratops is probably the most recognized of the “Frilled Headed” Dinosaurs. It seems there are always new species with even more bazaar “Frills” discovered regularly!
“Dinosaurs” by Steve Brusatte provided much information for this post.
A Warm Bedtime Story for the Youngest of Our Dinosaur enthusiasts:
“DINOSNORES” by Kelly DiPucchio illustrated by Ponder Goembel. Although the Young at Heart will surely find enjoyment in this tale too!
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Join Max the T-Rex and I at the City of Camarillo Library for a Reading
Of Dinosaur Fun Facts & Fiction Followed by
a “How to Draw Dinosaurs” Activity
on March 12th at 7:00 PM
4101 Los Posas Road, Camarillo
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
Your feedback is appreciated, Thank you!
Wow, your “students” are very well behaved in the pictures. I learn something new about dinosaurs 🦕 whenever I read information on your site. Dinosnores sounds like a great book to read to my kindergarten class. I will check my local library or Mrs. Figs bookstore in Camarillo 😎