The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County provided a Q & A with Dr. Nathan Smith, Associate Curator of the Dinosaur Institute. With a Zoom Meeting the Prehistoric Pals & I where able to see the current research in progress and get those burning questions answered. The Museum has 10’s of thousands of Dinosaur Fossils. We were able to see parts of Natalie a recently discovered sauropod in process of being prepared for display as well as other projects on the table. Confirmation was provided that Spinosaurs spent considerably more time in water than originally thought.
Palaeontologists develop an eye for finding fossils. The rocks are a different color than the fossils. Some fossils are darker grey than the surrounding stone. Others are purple vs. dark grey stone or sand stone surrounding them. The Museum’s often mount casts of the heads due to the fossils weight. Also having the original head in a display case next to mountings provides for easier study. We learned a study is under review of a potential ancestor to the Pterosaurs. Everyone will be very excited to hear about its outcome. Stay tuned. Check Out Upcoming & Previous Presentations at www.nhm.org
The American Natural History Museum presents “Inside at the Trilobite Collection”.
Trilobites are ancient marine arthropods that evolved over 520 Million Years Ago! Trilobites acted very similar to Horseshoe Crabs of today. They certainly were scavengers. Sizes vary from a few millimeters to 72 centimeters (a little more than 2 feet). Most were probably just a few inches long. Not all Trilobites had Eyes. Those that did were like compound eyes. As far as we know they were completely marine animals. However, there have been some tracks in what were tide pools of the time. Therefore, it’s possible some may have ventured a little on shore. Check Out the YouTube Video which includes a video of various extinction events.
Pterosaurs Explained
Pterodactylus antiquus – first Pterosaur Fossil described in 1784: 160 – 150 Million Years Old found in the Solnhofen Formation, Germany. Not until the 1840’s did scientists understand what they really were – flying reptiles not related to bats. Their closest relatives are Dinosaurs & Birds. Pterosaurs lived for 175 Million Years around the World. They were the first vertebrates to achieve flight! The complete story from the American Natural History Museum on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oANfjmup4Ww
“Pterosaurs” by Mark P. Witton is a great reference resource. Check with Your Local Library for a copy.
Chicago Field Museum: Latest information about Big Sue the T-Rex.
Gastralia Fossils – ribs across the dinosaur’s belly. Believed to aid in their breathing like our diaphragm does for us. For many years these fossils were in a display next to Sue. Once researchers determined how they should be attached, Sue was disassembled and moved to the Griffin Hall of Evolving Planet with the gastralia fossils added. Adjustments to her appearance have been made to reflect a more accurate T-Rex. Check Out Sue:
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog/sue-t-rex
www.Readingtokids.org has a number of eBooks and YouTube videos with Authors Reading their Books. Craft ideas are demonstrated online as well! The Zoom Reading to Kids Events have been a Great Success. This month’s Readings are about “Arts & Creativity”. The book I will be reading to the 5th grade class is “From an Idea to Disney” by Lowey Bundy Sichol. What kind of Theme Park would You Create? A Drawing Activity to Create Your Theme Park will take place after the reading. Of course, I had to come up with a Dinosaur Ride. The Brontosaurus Bus in James Gurney’s “Dinotopia Journey to Chandara” provide a pose that assisted me with creating the Sauropod Slide. A 2B pencil for sketching, drawn over with ink pens and finished in watercolors. What do You think of this Sauropod Slide?
If You would like help drawing Dinosaurs and other Friends, check out Your Library online for eBooks! Don’t have a Library Card? Many Libraries can provide a Library Card Online and have Staff Available by Phone to Walk You through the process too! Here are 4 eBooks that can help You master drawing Dinosaurs & other Prehistoric Pals. Check Out Your Library Online for others.
Drawing Dinosaurs – How to draw dinosaurs for absolute beginners – How to Draw Series by Adrian Sanqui
Draw-A-Saurus by James Silvani
Draw 50 Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals by Lee J. Ames
Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Creatures You Can Draw by Nicole Brecke
My First Book “Is a Metal Dinosaur the Right Pet for You?” is Available as an eBook on Kindle through Amazon.com!
Included are two photos of Prehistoric Pals converted to black & white line drawings for You to express Your Color Imagination! Search online for print options on Your device. Print Screen, Cropping & Printing are available on many smart phones. Your smart phone may even allow You to email Your Print Screen to Yourself allowing even more options before printing. Kindle has an app for smart phones!
I would love to see Your Color Visions for Dominic & Raphael! Use crayons, pencils, pens, or watercolors! Attach feathers, glitter whatever brings them to life for You. Send a picture of Your Colorized Imaginations to: paul@paulsprehistoricpark.com It could be in a future post!
I will keep You posted with information on my Next eBook “The Shy Triceratops”. I hope to have Paperback versions available later this year.
Check out eLearning options online with Your Local Library & Museums across the Globe!
Stay Safe & Well.
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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