Posted on 11/09/2010 7:32:29 PM PST by SunkenCiv
One of the best-known dinosaur species may not have really been a dinosaur species at all, according to new research. Scientists compared triceratops skulls to those of a lesser-known species, the torosaurus, and concluded that the triceratops were actually young torosauruses, New Scientist reports. They believe the three-horned dinosaur's skull changed shape as it aged.
Researchers say the bones of the horns and neck frill in the young dinosaurs remained spongy until they became full adults. "Even in the most mature specimens that we've examined, there is evidence that the skull was still undergoing dramatic changes at the time of death," one of the researchers says. Torosaurus and triceratops will now likely be reclassified as a single species -- but don't shed a tear just yet: The name "triceratops" will be the one that stays, the scientists say.
(Excerpt) Read more at newser.com ...
Thanks gleeaikin.
Ya gotta admit, it’s amusing that the scientist’s name is “Horner”.
Stolen faster than you can say Autobots Transform and roll out!
Eeh, kind of. Horner’s been around a looooong time.
It’s pretty funny that he’s “Jack Horner”. Back when the local museum had a special exhibit about his big finds in Montana, he gave a talk here, which I alas missed.
I asked my young nephew about this yesterday.
He snorted out a short laugh, then went and got his favorite Tritops. He handed me the tritops tail side up. He said “here, jab them with that. It hurts a lot.”
Dear Professor: I think your story is a bunch of . . .
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