JuniorPaleontologistsJournal–Week4
Welcomeback,JuniorPaleontologists!
Doyourecalllastweek’smystery?
WhatisthebonethatisV-shapedinthemiddleofthechestinthisphotographofNothronychus?
Answer:Itisthewishbone,justlikethewishboneinaThanksgivingturkey.Allbirdshaveawishbone.
Whyisitimportant?Becauseitshowsadirectconnectiontobirds.Dinosaursinthecarnivore(meat-eater)categoryaretheancestorsofbirds.Or,anotherwaytosaythatis,“BIRDSareDINOSAURS.”
BONUS:AnewYouTubevideoshowsthevarietyoftherizinosaurs,includingourNothronychusandsomeoftheartfromMNA.Itusesalotofconfusingnames,butitshowshowstrangethisgroupis.Theartworkiswonderful!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4TrWckE5Gk
ForourfourthdinosaurforJuniorPaleontologists,letusthinkBIG!
OurnextdinosaurisHUGE.GIGANTIC.ENORMOUS.ThisismyownfavoriteLARGEdinosaur.
Itisalong-neckdinosaurfromtheColoradoPlateau,inNewMexico.ItisaJurassicgiant.Itsnamewillshakeyouup:Seismosauruswhichmeans“Earth-ShakerDinosaur.”Sayitoutloud:“SIZE-mo-SOAR-us.”
LookcarefullyatthispictureoftheskeletonondisplayattheNewMexicoMuseumofNaturalHistoryandScience.Seismosaurusisthegiantlong-neckdinosaurwiththelongtail.Youcanfollowtheneckallthewaytothehead,whichisjustbelowtheflyingpterosaur.ThedinosaurattackingitsneckisthegiantpredatorAllosaurus.OntherightsideofthepictureisStegosaurus.AllthesedinosaursarefromtheJurassicPeriod.
DinosaurDetectivesandArtists:
Puzzle:CanyoufigureouthowlongistheskeletonofSeismosaurusbyusingcluesinthispicture?
Or,canyoudrawthishugelong-neckdinosaurandcoloritlikeyouthinkitlooked?
Or,canyouwriteastoryaboutthisgentlegiant?
AnswertoDinosaurPuzzle:HowlongwasSeismosaurus?
Seismosauruswasabout120feetlong,orevenlonger.Thatisabout3largesizeschoolbusesinaline.TheskeletonissolongitstailhadtobecurvedbackwardtofitintheJurassicHall!
DinosaurDetectives:
Puzzle:HowheavywasSeismosaurus?
CanyouguesshowmanyelephantsitwouldtaketobeasheavyasSeismosaurus?
DinosaurDetectivesonyesterday’spuzzle:
HowheavywasSeismosaurus?Answer:asheavyas5or10elephants,orevenmore.CanyouseewhySamiscalledtheEarthShaker?
+ + =
Now,letusthinkaboutwhatSeismosaurusate.Doesitlooklikeapredator,ormeat-eater?No,thislongneckcouldonlywalkslowlyonallfourlegs.
DinosaurDetectives:
Puzzle:Whatdoyouthinkthisgiantlongneckdinosaurate?
DinosaurArtists:
CanyoumakeadrawingthatshowsSeismosauruseating?Or,canyouwriteastoryorpoemaboutthisdinosaur?
Tomorrow:Stones!
DinosaurDetectivesonyesterday’spuzzle:WhatdidSeismosauruseat?
Answer:plantsplantsplants.
Alllongneckshadtofeedonplants,alldaylong.Andmaybeallnightlongtoo!Theyhadtoeatallthetime.
Didyoualreadyknowwhatthelong-neckdinosaursate?
Thisphotographshowstheexcavationofsomeofthebonesofthetail,coveredinplastertoprotectthem.
DinosaurDetectives:Hereisahugemystery:whatarethesestones?WefoundthemwhenweexcavatedSeismosaurus.
ThesestoneswereaBIGsurprise!Whatdoyouthinktheyare?
Thispictureshowsmyhandattheexcavation,nexttoaribofSeismosaurusstillintherock,andoneofstonesthatwefound.Doesthisgiveyouanyideasontheanswertothepuzzle?
DinosaurArtists:CanyouwriteapoemorastoryaboutthesestonesthatwerefoundwiththeSeismosaurusskeleton?
DinosaurDetectivesandArtistsonyesterday’spuzzle:Whatareallthosestones?Theyarestomachstonesthatthedinosaurhadinitsbelly.Didyoufigurethatout?Orwriteastoryorpoemaboutthesestones?
Stomachstonesarealsocalled“gastroliths”whichmeans“stomachstones.”Gastrolithsarerareindinosaurexcavations.Thiswasaluckydiscovery!
Whywerethestonesinthebelly?Theyareprobablyusedtogrindupthefoodinthebelly.Thiswasespeciallyimportantbecausealongneckdinosaurwouldhavetoeatlotsoffoodeveryday.
DinosaurDetectivesandArtists:AFlyingDinosaurPuzzle
Whatishappeninghere?
Isthisadinosaurrescue?
Orsomethingelse?
Canyouimaginewhat’sgoingonandwriteastoryaboutit?
Haveyoueverseenadinosaurfly?
AnswernextMonday.
DoyouhaveanyquestionsforDinosaurDave?