New Dinosaur Species Found in India

AP ^ | August 13, 2003 | RAMOLA TALWAR BADAM

[nwrep]

New Dinosaur Species Found in India

2 hours, 55 minutes ago

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By RAMOLA TALWAR BADAM, Associated Press Writer

BOMBAY, India - U.S. and Indian scientists said Wednesday they have discovered a new carnivorous dinosaur species in India after finding bones in the western part of the country.

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The new dinosaur species was named Rajasaurus narmadensis, or "Regal reptile from the Narmada," after the Narmada River region where the bones were found.

The dinosaurs were between 25-30 feet long, had a horn above their skulls, were relatively heavy and walked on two legs, scientists said. They preyed on long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs on the Indian subcontinent during the Cretaceous Period at the end of the dinosaur age, 65 million years ago.

"It's fabulous to be able to see this dinosaur which lived as the age of dinosaurs came to a close," said Paul Sereno, a paleontologist at the University of Chicago. "It was a significant predator that was related to species on continental Africa, Madagascar and South America."

Working with Indian scientists, Sereno and paleontologist Jeff Wilson of the University of Michigan reconstructed the dinosaur skull in a project funded partly by the National Geographic (news - web sites) Society.

A model of the assembled skull was presented Wednesday by the American scientists to their counterparts from Punjab University in northern India and the Geological Survey of India during a Bombay news conference.

Scientists said they hope the discovery will help explain the extinction of the dinosaurs and the shifting of the continents — how India separated from Africa, Madagascar, Australia and Antarctica and collided with Asia.

The dinosaur bones were discovered during the past 18 years by Indian scientists Suresh Srivastava of the Geological Survey of India and Ashok Sahni, a paleontologist at Punjab University.

When the bones were examined, "we realized we had a partial skeleton of an undiscovered species," Sereno said.

The scientists said they believe the Rajasaurus roamed the Southern Hemisphere land masses of present-day Madagascar, Africa and South America.

"People don't realize dinosaurs are the only large-bodied animal that lived, evolved and died at a time when all continents were united," Sereno said.

The cause of the dinosaurs' extinction is still debated by scientists. The Rajasaurus discovery may provide crucial clues, Sereno said.

India has seen quite a few paleontological discoveries recently.

In 1997, villagers discovered about 300 fossilized dinosaur eggs in Pisdura, 440 miles northeast of Bombay, that Indian scientists said were laid by four-legged, long-necked vegetarian creatures.

Indian scientists said the dinosaur embryos in the eggs may have suffocated during volcanic eruptions.

[Aric2000]

I have found this whole conversation and thread absolutely priceless.

The beginning, we get someone who uses the same old arguments, AGAIN, we provide informations which of course he ignores, then ALS goes Bye, Bye, lord knows how or why, but we can imagine, then Ichneumon comes in, makes some brilliant posts and the poster he was responding to comes back at me intead with something ridiculous that had been answered in the posts by Ichneumon, which he of course totally ignored, because he really does NOT want to know.

AndrewC gets a major case of hypersensitivity, and G3K whines throughout the thread. The PH hits him hard and he keeps whining and crying and tossing unfounded accusations around, then PH hits him again, and he keeps doing it until he gets to a point where he is placed in the troll category all on his own.

Man, this has been quite a ride, I hope RA and VR have saved this thing forever. We need to frame it!! LOL

It's amazing, and priceless

[xzins]

I have been asked to ping you all to this thread to observe an agreement that is to prevent flaming on creation/evolution threads.

Apparently, it isn't working well, and people are getting zotted/burned/abused.

[goodseedhomeschool (returned)]

Hello alamogirl
I have a question. It may seem a little stupid but here goes. This "agreement" up for review. Is this typical practice? It seems so legal/formal. This is an adult site am I right? Do we adults need to sign some form of agreement to discuss a topic on this site? Cannot we all simply be civil to one another without some type of school rules if you will. This seems a little odd to me, but that's just me. Name calling is something we were scolded for in school as children. I am under the assumption that this is a site for enjoyable and sometimes active engagement of conversation. I think these "rules" seem a little fuzzy and kind of takes the fun out of being free to talk. Just too legalistic. But, you have been here longer and proabaly know more about this than I do. Can't we all just get along, not to put too fine a point on a cliche.

[Aric2000]

Guess who's been making some calls!! LOL

Ready or not, asbestos suits for everyone, it's about to get REALLY HOT in here I think!!

I myself, think I will go get a drink and some popcorn and watch the show!! And NOT become a major star within it, thank you very much.

This should get interesting, RA and VR, use that save a LOT, because this thread has a very good chance of going byebye in a hurry, if and when they show up.

[bondserv]

Princess Bride

Scene: The Spanish Swordsman speaking to the Italian Genius

"You keep using that word, I don't think it means what you think it means."

[Alamo-Girl]

Welcome to Free Republic, concisetraveler!

Indeed, there are general guidelines for the Free Republic forum which you can find here.

The science threads involving Evolution v Creation/Intelligent Design have always been rather lively on the forum but in the past few months became so toxic with flame wars that several threads were deleted and others were relegated to the Smokey Backroom. The abuse button was being hit frequently. A tremendous amount of research was lost on the deleted threads and people were quite "on edge."

To make a long story short, the flame warring parties agreed to agree on some special rules for the willing parties on these threads to try to make and keep the peace.

We are in the second week of this agreement and it comes up for review at 30 days. Hopefully, there will be such peace that nobody will see the need for it and thus, it will become obsolete.

But until that day comes, we who are willing (it is a completely voluntary agreement) "shall treat others on these threads as we wish to be treated ourselves" in accordance with the guidelines. Agreement of the Willing

[Aric2000]

You're probably right!! ;)

[js1138]

Railing accusations from either side are flame invitations.

As usual, you gently remind me of my blind side. Blanket dismissals of creationism, without specifics, are also offensive.

The discussion of definitions -- hypothesis, theory, law, etc) may seem redundant to old timers, but I am seeing new faces on these discussions. I see no problem in trying to reach some common language.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your reply and for the encouragements!

Indeed, with each new face on these threads - on either side - we will be traveling over the same ground again. Actually, the timing might be excellent for gathering data for tortoise's idea of building a resource of point/counter-point in the debate.

[goodseedhomeschool (returned)]

Thank you for your quick response. Of course I am aware of the general guidelines of Free republic and read them well upon entering. We should all be civil to one another and not need special rules of conduct. I think profanity should absolutly be discouraged. I also think mocking ones religion is very bad too. I have seen a lot of that here on these types of threads and on many other threads. I think these "flame wars" are all over the internet when it comes to this subject in particular. It will be for a long time to come. There will never be a quick fix for that. I admire your good intentions though, very much. I am wondering what others think about the extreme measures having to be made here. I also wonder if there is an underlying motivation here. I tend to be suspicious of such things.
I will state, for the record, that I mean no harm, ill will, or any other nasty feelings toward anyone here or anywhere eles for that matter. I agree to be as kind to everyone as possible. I will call no person stupid or dumb and expect the same in return. If when posting a thought, I disagree with the "popular crowd" here, I will simply go somewhere eles at that time as not to interrupt the think fest populus. I am aware that as a Christian, I am in uncharted waters here and will not attempt to swim with sharks, no pun intended. I am aware that I am in the minority.
There, that is my agreement. I hope it is acceptable.

[goodseedhomeschool (returned)]

To clarify "swim with sharks" I mean that if my posted comment is met with mocking more than one time, I will no longer post to the particular poster.

[AndrewC]

Hopefully, there will be such peace that nobody will see the need for it and thus, it will become obsolete.

The following does not seem conducive to that goal.

Therefore gore3000 is a "non-compliant poster," and he may hereafter be called a provocateur, troll, spammer, or disruptor, and doing so will not be a violation of the agreement.

[goodseedhomeschool (returned)]

This really is confusing and seems quite contradictive in this case. It seems to me that this agreement might be used as a means of eliminating any and all conflicting views of the populus. Is this the way it is or is it me?

[BibChr]

I don't get your post, or being pinged.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your reply! I'm confident you'll have no problem on these threads as long as you stick with the principles you already have.

I am wondering what others think about the extreme measures having to be made here. I also wonder if there is an underlying motivation here. I tend to be suspicious of such things.

There have been suspicions of hidden motives from both sides from the onset. I was the mediator between the two sides - Creation/Intelligent Design on the one hand and Evolution on the other. I am one of the Creation/Intelligent Design siders.

Both sides expected me to be biased - however, it is the duty of a mediator to be even-handed - so, in the end, both sides were surprised - one pleased, one disappointed.

You can read the whole run-up to the drafting process and the bitterness which followed on this thread - and the negotiations as they occured on this thread.

As for me, I continue on the science threads with this passage in mind:

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace [be] with thee. Amen. - I Timothy 6:20-21

[AndrewC]

Is this the way it is or is it me?

It is not you.

[goodseedhomeschool (returned)]

I would not want your job, that's for sure. To even have to be "even-handed" in such a volatile topic can be tricky to be sure. Both sides are very convicted to their causes. Both sides convinced that the other is terribly wrong and blind. Both sides trying to get the other to "see the light". The one thing that I cannot stop thinking about though is this. As a Christian myself, and as a very conservative person, AND being drawn to this site for it's conservative statements on the front page, I think that there should be more here who are likeminded as myself. I guess time will tell. It is no surprise to me to find people on any type of conservative site who really hate anything to do with God. However, the one thing most Christians have in common is the fact that they are conservative. So, the confusing circle still spins.
As one who thinks as I do ( I assume), I would just like to say this. We must not loose ourselves in the opposition. Thank you for the inspiration bible verse.

[goodseedhomeschool (returned)]

Thank you for that. I was beginning to wonder if I was reading something that was not there.

[js1138]

I find the obsession with the specific rules to be unworthy of adult Freepers. The details of the agreement are of little importance. The spirit of the agreement is a commitment to focus on scientific issues and avoid incitement to flame wars. All you have to do to be compliant is ask yourself before posting, Am I addressing an issue or insulting a person, then edit appropriately. There are no forbidden topics, just forbidden tactics.

In my humble opinion, a lot of time is being wasted on all sides trying to decide exctly what insulting words are acceptable. My answer, which applies to myself only, is none.