Posted on 09/23/2010 4:04:05 AM PDT by tlb
The Utah reptiles belong to the horned-dinosaur family, which is known for outlandish anatomy, and are wowing seasoned fossil hunters.
The species named Kosmoceratops had 15 horns decorating its massive head, giving it the most elaborate dinosaur headdress known to science. At 15 feet long, it was larger than a Ford Fiesta. Its name means "ornate horned-face" in Latin.
The newly discovered dinosaurs, close relatives of the famous Triceratops, were announced today.
Utah scientists believe most of the horns were used to attract mates and intimidate rivals of the same species. The dinosaur fossils were found in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah.
"The skulls alone can be in excess of 6 feet long, [among] the largest heads on any land animal that ever lived,"
Mark Loewen, one of the authors on the paper, likened Utahceratops to "a giant rhino with a ridiculously supersized head."
"The hooks at the back of the skull would've been relatively useless as weapons, but they're great for showing off," said study leader Scott Sampson of the Utah Museum of Natural History at a press conference today. "These are effectively the peacock feathers ... of the dinosaur world."
Both species were plant eaters,...during the Late Cretaceous period, more than 70 million years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Probably why they're horny
"Like, wow."
ping
ping
Reid and Pelosi ancestors.
It’s interesting that no one really knows what color dinosaurs used to be. Was it drab like the modern crocodile, or as vividly colored as the male Agama lizard (I was with some Agamas a couple months ago in Mombasa, and my goodness ....the most vivid blues and reds one has ever seen. No wonder some call them the ‘spiderman lizard,’ because they look like ol’ spidey in his sunday best). At least the pictures above have color
I would hypothisize that a million or more years from now, someone will ask as to why there are no fossilized bones of democrats being excavated...From the 20th and 21st Centuries...
Because it will be determined that democrats do not have any bones to fossilize...
the horned lizard is a seemingly normal looking lizard found in the southwest region of the United States. It doesn’t use its horns to defend itself, as you might expect. Rather, when attacked, it pressures its own sinus cavities until the blood vessels in its eyes burst, and it sprays its attacker with blood from its eyes.
I was wondering what happened to Helen Thomas.
POLITICALLY CORRECT VERSION Since WE and the UAW own CHYRSLER
At 15 feet long, it was larger than a DODGE Nitro yet just as extinct.
She is not as large as a Ford Fiesta but just as appealing as a Ford Edsel
Speaking of Mike Castle, whose political career is just as extinct as this horny relic, did he congratulate O'Donnell yet?
Not that I've heard. Has he officially endorsed the Democrat yet?
Have they taken into account that this may be a male/female thing or a exceedingly mature form of the same dinosaur?...................
“subdividing the continent into eastern and western landmasses, known as Appalachia and Laramidia.
Whereas little is known of the plants and animals
that lived on Appalachia”
When the Appalachia ones are discovered, most will be found living in prehistoric versions of trailer parks within 1 mile of their parents and needing extensive dental work. The rest moved north looking for work.
Being originally from Eastern Kentucky, I can laugh at the stereotypes.
But they probably got better gas mileage...
Actually the “kosmo-” root comes from Greek, along with the other two elements (”kerat-” and “ops”).
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