A track from a theropod, which scientists estimated was about three feet tall at the hip. Credit University of Edinburgh
Posted on 04/04/2018 8:15:38 PM PDT by BBell
Gigantic dinosaurs frolicked and splashed some 170 million years ago in the lagoons of what is now Scotland. That’s what a team of paleontologists has determined after discovering dozens of jumbo-sized footprints belonging to long-necked sauropods on the Isle of Skye. Mixed with the herbivores’ tracks were a few clawed impressions left behind by two-legged meat-eaters known as theropods.
The footprints present a snapshot of life during an important period in dinosaur history that has yielded relatively few fossil remains. In the mid-Jurassic, sauropods necks grew longer and the first birds were figuring out flight.
Identifying two types of footprints in the same place also challenges the idea that long-necked dinosaurs waded into shallow, muddy waters to escape predators, said Stephen Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and an author of the new study.
“We’re actually seeing these dinosaurs interacting with each other and interacting with their environment,” he said. The team reported their findings Monday in the Scottish Journal of Geology.
One of Dr. Brusatte’s graduate students, Davide Foffa, stumbled upon the first tracks in 2016 while the team explored the coasts for bones and teeth. Amid the tidal pools, he found a large impression that had been colored pinkish-purple by algae. Upon closer inspection, he discovered the outlines of toes and a fleshy heel pad — a sauropod footprint.
That print became known as “the money track.”
“Once I saw that track, it was like I put on a different kind of glasses or something,” said Paige dePolo, who was then a master’s student working under Dr. Brusatte and is lead author of the new paper. “It helped me to see these other less distinct tracks.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
A track from a theropod, which scientists estimated was about three feet tall at the hip. Credit University of Edinburgh
Paige dePolo searches for dinosaur tracks on the Isle of Sky. She and her colleagues helped identify about 50 footprints, including a few with long heels and claws. Credit University of Edinburgh
*ping*
I dated a woman with long heels and claws.
Also found in a cave on Skye, drawings of a dinosaur.
Interesting, since pre-humans didn’t appear until 63M years after the Dinos became extinct.
Maybe the drawings were done by Ancient Aliens.
Aye! ‘at’s Nessie. A wee bonnie lassie she is!
Is that Cthulhu in that cave drawing?
I’d like to see the kilts that these giants wore.
Haggish anyone?
Thanks fmdj, will ping from home!
I’ve just come down
From the Isle of Skye
I’m not very big and I’m awful shy
And the lassies shout when I go by
Donald, where’s your troosers
[Chorus:]
Let the wind blow high
Let the wind blow low
Through the streets
In my kilt, I’ll go
All the lassies say hello
Donald, where’s your troosers
A lassie took me to a ball
And it was slippery in the hall
And I was feared that I would fall
For I had nae on my troosers
[Repeat chorus]
Now I went down to London Town
And I had some fun in the underground
The ladies turned their heads around
Saying, Donald, where are your trousers
[Repeat chorus]
To wear the kilt is my delight
It is not wrong I know it’s right
The Highlanders would get a fright
If they saw me in the trousers
[Repeat chorus]
The lassies want me every one
Well, let them catch me if they can
You canna take the breaks
If a Highland man
And I don’t wear the troosers
[Repeat chorus]
Donald, where’s your troosers
They were on the Isle of Skye looking to procure some Drambuie. Them was some smart dinosaurs.
One of the reasons I “flocked” to see Jurassic Park when it was released! No one gets over that kiddie obsession with dinosaurs.
This is very dangerous to do on your own.
ML/NJ
This song shot all the way up to Number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Thanks fieldmarshaldj.
That’s a screenshot from the latest King King movie. The drawing depicts Godzilla on the right and King Ghidorah on the left. So no Cthulhu or ancient alowns. Good guesses though.
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