I Know Dino Podcast Present Notes: Edmontosaurus (Episode 129)

Episode 129 is all about Edmontosaurus, a hadrosaurid that lived within the Cretaceous in what’s now western North America.

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On this episode, we focus on:

Information:

• The 3ft 8in, 5lb, Early cretaceous troodontid Jianianhualong tengi was found in an early cretaceous formation in China
• The staff who introduced again Brontosaurus have renamed Diplodocus pabsti to Galeamopus hayi due to its distinctive neck
• 3 vertebrae from the brand new titanosaur Tengrisaurus starkovi have been recovered in Russia about 200mi North of Ulaanbaatar
• The Utahraptor undertaking has shared new movies on their progress together with how they transported the 18,000 pound rock
• Sauropod Vertebra Image of the Week has an article in regards to the historical past of the American Museum of Pure Historical past’s Apatosaurus
• Thomas Holtz has proposed utilizing Pachypodosauria as a substitute of Saurischia within the new Ornithoscelida taxonomy
• Day by day Document posted particulars in regards to the Marl deposits in New Jersey together with the 1938 discovery of Haddy the Hadrosaurus
• The brand new guide “All Yesterdays” depicts trendy animals with the identical “shrink-wrapping” that afflicts many paleoart dinosaurs
• One other guide “Primeval Kings” reveals paleoart from the #Inktober and #DrawDinovember occasions and is obtainable on Kickstarter
• A dialogue about Dino Pulera and Thomas Carr provides perception into the interplay between paleoartists and scientists who fee them
• The Vividen put collectively a video record of huge carnivorous theropods, all no less than 5,000Kg or extra
• Brian Switek revealed a profile on Triceratops and the way it wasn’t as pleasant as we would suppose
• Dinosaur Nationwide Monument has attracted over 300,000 guests final yr who spent over $18 million in close by cities
• The TV present referred to as Dino Dan makes use of augmented actuality to show children about dinosaurs
• Till July 16, the Bruce Museum in Connecticut has an exhibition referred to as “Final Days of Pangea: Within the Footsteps of Dinosaurs.”
• Carter County Museum in Ekalaka, a member of the Montana Dinosaur Path, just lately received a Montana tourism award
• Dinosaurs and Cowboys meet within the revival of “Flesh” a graphic novel the place individuals time journey to get dinosaur meat
• Melbourne Mint in Australia launched a Proof 5-ounce T. rex $5 silver coin, it prices $495 and is proscribed to 500 items
• Snapchat received a brand new patent for Spectacles which can embody an Augmented Actuality Tyrannosaurus Rex
• A lady within the UK shaved alpacas to appear to be different animals together with a poodle and a Stegosaurus
• Mccomb has a recipe for an Arlo (of Good Dinosaur fame) cake
• The Debrief put collectively an inventory of 12 dinosaur stylish gadgets together with a Coach bag, Kate Spade keychain, and garments
• In style Science Store is promoting a 3D “neon” dinosaur mild

The dinosaur of the day: Edmontosaurus

• Hadrosaurid (duck-billed) that lived within the Cretaceous in what’s now western North America
• Two identified species: Edmontosaurus regalis and Edmontosaurus annectens
• Sort species is Edmontosaurus regalis
• The species identify regalis means “regal” or “king-sized”
• Edmontosaurus is known as after Edmonton, the capital of Alberta (fossils have been first present in southern Alberta)
• Edmontosaurus regalis was named in 1917 by Lawrence Lambe, primarily based on two specimens present in Alberta (that George Sternberg present in 1912 and 1916)
• Nonetheless, there are different species that at the moment are labeled as Edmontosaurus that have been named earlier, together with Edmontosaurus annectens, which Charles Marsh named in 1892 (initially was Claosaurus, then generally known as Trachodon, then Anatosaurus annectens. Anatosaurus and Anatotitan at the moment are often thought-about to be synonyms of Edmontosaurus
• Charles Marsh named Claosaurus annectens in 1892, primarily based on a partial skull-roof and skeleton and a second cranium and skeleton (specimens have been collected in 1891 by John Bell Hatcher, in Wyoming)
• Charles Marsh described in 1889 a decrease jaw that John Bell Hatcher discovered within the Lance Formation. He named it Trachodon longiceps, and it was bigger than Cope’s specimen however had some similarities. In 1904 a second principally full skeleton was discovered within the Hell Creek Formation, by Oscar Hunter, a rancher in Montana. He and a good friend debated over whether or not what he discovered was a fossils. Hunter confirmed it was brittle (and subsequently stone) by kicking off the tops of the vertebrae, which Barnum Brown, who finally collected the fossil, was sad about. Alfred Sensiba, one other rancher, purchased the specimen for a pistol and bought it to Brown, who excavated it in 1906. In 1907 this and Cope’s specimen have been mounted subsequent to one another on the AMNH, as Trachodon mirabilis
• Hadrosaurids weren’t well-known on the time, and after Marsh died in 1897 Claosaurus annectens was labeled as quite a few genera, Claosaurus, Thespesius, Trachodon. Textbooks and encyclopedias talked about the distinction between Claosaurus that was “Iguanodon-like” and Hadrosaurus with the “duck-bill”. In 1902, Hatcher mentioned Claosaurus annectens was synonymous with the duck-billed cranium hardosaurid, and he thought almost all then identified hadrosaurids have been synonyms of Trachodon (which included Cionodon, Diclonius, Hadrosaurus, Ornithotarsus, Pteropelyx, Thespesius, Claorhynchus, Polyoanx). Then in 1910 new fossils from Canada and Montana confirmed extra variety in hadrosaurids. Charles Gilmore mentioned in 1915 that Claosaurus annectens was the identical as Thespesius occidentalis
• Between 1902 and 1915, two extra Claosaurus annecten specimens have been discovered. The primary was the “Trachodon mummy” present in 1908 by Charles Hazleius Sternberg and his sons, in Wyoming. Sternberg was working for the British Museum of Pure Historical past, however Henry Fairfield Osborn purchased the specimen for $2000 for the American Museum of Pure Historical past. In 1910 the Sternbergs discovered a second comparable specimen in the identical space, which had pores and skin impressions (they bought it to the Senckenberg Museum in Germany)
• Lawrence Lambe described Trachodon selwyni in 1902 primarily based on a decrease jaw present in Alberta. It was described as having been assigned to Edmontosaurus regalis, however not many individuals suppose that is proper
• Trachodon is now thought-about to be a doubtful genus
• Two different species have been included with Edmontosaurus within the Nineteen Twenties however have been initially referred to as Thespesius. In 1926, Charles Sternberg named a brand new specimen Thespesius saskatchwanensis. In 1942, Lull and Wright wished to simplify the taxonomy of crestless hadrosaurids and named a brand new genus, Anatosaurus, to incorporate a number of species. The identify Anatosaurus means “duck lizard” Assigned to this new genus have been Thespesius, Trachodon longiceps (named primarily based on a decrease jaw), and a brand new species referred to as Anatosaurus copei, primarily based on two skeletons on show on the AMNH that have been beforehand generally known as Diclonius. Anatosaurus turned generally known as the “basic duck-billed dinosaur”
• Anatosaurus was a wastebasket taxon for hadrosaurs
• Anatosaurus copei (then Anatotian, then Edmontosaurus annectens) was present in 1882 by Dr. J. L. Wortman and R. S. Hill in 1882, for Edward Cope. They discovered it within the Hell Creek Formation, and Cope described it as Diclonius mirabilis. It was a mix of Diclonius, a hardosaur Cope had named earlier primarily based on enamel, and Trachodon mirabilis, which was additionally named primarily based on enamel, however named by Joseph Leidy. Cope thought Leidy didn’t correctly characterize Trachodon and had deserted it, so he assigned the older Trachodon species to the brand new genus Diclonius (Leidy had discovered that Trachodon was primarily based on a number of varieties of dinosaurs, and he was engaged on revising the genus, however didn’t formally declare something)
• Lambe famous that the 2 Edmontosaurus specimens he described in 1917 have been just like Diclonius mirabilis
• Within the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties Michael Okay. Brett-Surman rexamined this materials and located that Anatosaurus annectens, the kind species, was really a species of Edmontosaurus, and mentioned that Anatosaurus copei was totally different sufficient to be a separate genus. This was a part of his graduate work, and isn’t thought-about to be an official publication by the Worldwide Fee on Zoological Nomenclature. In 1990, Brett-Surman and Ralph Chapman designed a brand new genus for Anatosaurus copei, Anatotitan. Then Anatosaurus saskatchewanensis and Anatosaurus edmontoni have been reassigned to Edmontosaurus, Anatosaurus longiceps turned Anatotitan (both as a second species or synonym of Anatotitan copei). As a result of the kind species, Anatosaurus annectens, turned Edmontosaurus, Anatosaurus is now not thought-about to be a junior synonym
• Right now, there have been thought-about to be three species of Edmontosaurus: regalis, annectens (which included Anatosaurus edmontoni) and saskatchewanensis
• Nicolás Campione and David Evans mentioned in a 2007 examine that there have been solely two legitimate Edmontosaurus specimens: regalis and annectens, and so they discovered that Anatotitan copei was a synonym of Edmontosaurus annectens (the Anatotitan cranium was a mature Edmontosaurus annecten)
• In 2011, Campione and Evans checked out all identified Edmontosaurus skulls and located that the form of the skulls modified because it grew. The cranium turned longer and flatter. This result in errors in classification, and signifies that Thespesius edmontoni, a.okay.a. Edmontosaurus annectens, was extra possible a subadult Edmontosaurus regalis. Additionally Edmonstosaurus saskatchewanensis represented juveniles, Edmontosaurus annectens have been subadults, and Anatotitan copei have been mature adults
• It’s potential Trachodon longiceps can also be a synonym of Edmontosaurus annectens
• Edmontosaurus specimens present in Alaska and western Texas have been reassigned to different genera (Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis and Kritosaurus)
• It’s a saurolophine hadrosaurid, which is the group that had stable crests or fleshy combs (as a substitute of huge, hole crests, like lambeosaurinae)
• One of many largest hadrosaurids
• As much as 39 ft (12 m) lengthy and weighing 4 tons (probably even bigger, as much as 49 ft or 15 m lengthy and weighing 9 metric tons, primarily based on a pair specimens which are nonetheless being studied)
• Very massive Edmontosaurus have been most likely uncommon due to environmental stress, illness, and being prey
• A number of bonebeds discovered. One within the Lance Formation has stays from 10,000 to 25,000 Edmontosaurus
• Probably lived in teams and should have migrated, primarily based on a number of bone beds being discovered
• Phil R. Bell and Eric Snively mentioned in 2008 that Edmontosaurus could have migrated yearly 1,600 mi (2,600 km) spherical journey (from Alaska to Alberta), however not everybody agrees
• Chisamy and others in 2012 discovered that hadrosaur stays in additional polar areas have been from teams that lived there on a regular basis (and didn’t migrate)
• Herbivore, and will transfer on each two and 4 legs
• Most likely walked on two legs when shifting quick
• Had highly effective leg muscle mass
• Might run probably as much as 28 mph (45 kph)
• Cumbersome with a protracted, flat tail and a head with a duck-like beak
• Held tail horizontally (tail had ossified tendons so it was “ramrod” straight)
• Stiff tail could have helped counterbalance, particularly when altering between two and 4 legs
• Hadrosaurs are typically referred to as the “cows” of the Cretaceous, however they might have been extra highly effective than we realized (had massive again legs and a muscled tail, and will run sooner than a T.rex)
• Largest identified cranium was 46 in (118 cm) lengthy
• Had a comb-like crest on its head
• Cranium was triangular
• Some Edmontosaurus skulls have been so nicely preserved scientists might make casts of the mind cavity (had a proportionately small mind)
• Bones round its nasal openings had deep indentations, which can have held inflatable air sacs
• Scientists have discovered sclerotic rings within the eye sockets and stapes (reptilian ear bone) in Edmontosaurus specimens, which is never preserved
• Edmontosaurus annectens has an extended, much less strong cranium than Edmontosaurus regalis, and Edmontosaurus regalis comes from an older formation than Edmontosaurus annectens (although they’ve each been present in the identical space)
• Discovered within the Horseshoe Canyon and St. Mary River formations (older) and Frenchman, Hell Creek, and Lance formations (youthful)
• Had a frilly ridge of sentimental tissue down the middle of its neck and again
• Had 4 fingers on every hand (2nd, third, and 4th digits have been about the identical size and have been collectively by way of a fleshy masking); little finger was shorter and never related to the opposite three
• Had three toes on every foot, and so they had hoof-like ideas
• Cope had initially thought hadrosaurids have been amphibious, primarily based on the decrease jaw being weakly related and would possibly break off if consuming non-aquatic meals (he additionally thought the beak was weak). However this turned out to not be true
• Quick fingers weren’t nice for swimming, and identical with inflexible tail
• Scientists used to suppose Edmontosaurus was aquatic and ate aquatic crops (till the Sixties and 70s). William Morris in 1970 mentioned it had a weight-reduction plan like trendy geese, and used its beak to filter crops and aquatic invertebrates, however that is now thought-about false
• Scientists have discovered pores and skin impressions and potential intestine contents of Edmontosaurus
• Had a toothless beak that have been lined in keratin
• The “mummy” Edmontosaurus on the Senckenberg Museum has a few of the keratinous materials on the beak
• Used its beak to chop meals (cropped it or clamped jaws on twigs and branches and stripped off leaves and shoots)
• Might eat meals on the bottom to about 13 ft (4 m) tall
• Most likely grazed its meals, primarily based on put on patterns on the enamel
• Had cheek-like constructions to maintain meals within the mouth
• Might most likely slice and grind, primarily based on tooth construction
• Had dental batteries
• Had as much as 2,000 enamel behind its jaws
• Solely had enamel within the higher cheeks and dentaries
• Regularly changed enamel, and so they took about half a yr to kind
• Tooth grew in columns, and the variety of columns trusted the dimensions of the Edmontosaurus (Edmontosaurus regalis had between 51-53 columns and Edmontosaurus annectens had 52)
• From the Nineteen Eighties to early 2000s, it was thought that hadrosaurids might chew by shifting its decrease jaw back and forth, primarily based on a mannequin by David Weishampel in 1984. However in 2008 Casey Holliday and Lawrence Witmer revealed a examine that discovered Edmontosaurus didn’t have cranium joints that might permit this movement. A 2009 examine by Vincent Wililams and others mentioned there could have been a mix of actions, together with an indirect movement
• There have been stories of gastroliths present in Edmontosaurus annectens (then generally known as Claosaurus, when Barnum Brown discovered it in 1900), however now it’s thought the gastroliths have been really gravel that washed in after the animal died
• The Sternberg “mummy” specimens could have had intestine contents. Sternberg reported on carbonized intestine contents for the AMNH specimen, but it surely hasn’t been described but. Plant stays within the Senckenberg Museum specimen have been described however weren’t simple to interpret (crops could also be intestine contents, or have been washed into the animal’s carcass after it died)
• Edmontosaurus annectens specimens have been discovered with pores and skin impressions, such because the “Trachodon mummy”, and one other specimen nicknamed “Dakota” (present in 1999 by Tyler Larson within the Hell Creek Formation in North Dakota, and introduced in 2007). Discovered that many of the physique was lined in scales
  Not as many specimens with pores and skin impressions have been discovered for Edmontosaurus regalis, however some specimens have been studied, together with one with a comfortable tissue crest on the pinnacle
• Not clear if Edmontosaurus annectens had a crest, and whether or not the crest indicated sexual dimorphism
• Edmontosaurus lived throughout western North America, and appeared to want coasts and coastal plains
• The Lance formation, the place some Edmontosaurus specimens have been discovered, had a bayou setting, with tropical conifers and palm timber round hardwood forests, a damp, subtropical local weather. Lived amongst fish, salamanders, turtles, lizards, snakes, shorebirds, and small mammals
• Lived on the identical time and place as Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus (one of many final non-avian dinosaurs)
• Edmontosaurus bones have been described as having tumors in 2003 (hemanglomas, desmoplastic fibroma, metastatic most cancers, and osteoblastoma). Might have been genetic or from environmental elements
• Osteochondrosis has additionally been present in 2.2% of 224 Edmontosaurus toe bones (pits in bone in locations the place bones articulate, which occurs when cartilage is just not changed by bone throughout progress). Not clear if that’s from genetics, trauma, feeding depth, or different elements
• One specimen of Edmontosaurus annectens from South Dakota has tooth marks from small theropods on its decrease jaws (partially healed). Perhaps the theropods attacked its throat, and it died of its accidents
• Can see an grownup Edmontosaurus annectens on the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (has a theropod chunk in its tail, most likely a T.rex); died earlier than it healed, and had a bone an infection. It survived the assault one way or the other, both outmaneuvered, outran, or used its tail as a weapon
• Can see two Edmontosaurus specimens on the Museum of the Rockies
• Can see Edmontosaurus in Dinosaurs of their Time, an exhibit within the Carnegie Museum (two T.rexes are combating over a carcass)

Enjoyable Truth:

Pachypodosauria (potential new identify for Saurischians w/o Theropods) was named by Friedrich von Huene in 1914. Mockingly Pachypodosauria was initially used to group theropods and sauropodomorphs (he additionally named Sauropodomorpha)

This isn’t the primary time the Saurischian-Ornithischian framework has been questioned. Bob Bakker proposed some main modifications in The Dinosaur Heresies in 1986. He proposed placing herrarasaurids on their very own, Theropods on their very own, and Phytodinosauria “plant dinosaurs” by itself. Which successfully separating out herbivores from carnivores. This was half of a bigger argument to take away Dinosauria from Reptilia to emphasise their bird-like heat bloodedness. Within the guide he says “I proposed this type of classification in 1975 in an article I revealed in in Scientific American. Most taxonomists, nevertheless, have seen such new terminology as dangerously destabilizing to the normal well-known shcheme that has been with us because the time of Baron Cuvier.”

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