Very large ducks, indeed.
I love it when things I love come together (like the time a cranky scientist and the female orgasm came together (so to speak)) and they have, yet again! Huzzah for me!
Ducks and dinosaurs.
Now, we all know that modern birds are descended from the same group of dinosaurs that included T-Rex and Velociraptor (Theropods) - which means that when you're fearing the fearsome fangs of the velociraptors in Jurassic Park you're afraid of an ancestor (kinda) of a mallard - but some recently discovered fossilized colon contents (bromalite) of some elasmosaurid plesiosaurs pointed to some very different dinosaurs being duck-like!
You know those dinosaurs that you see artist-recreations of that have flippers and long necks? (Like the Loch Ness monster, except real.) Those long necks may not have been for getting to quick-swimming fish, as was previously thought. They may simply have been a way for the beasties in question to duck (ha!) their heads way down to the bottom of the ocean to scoop up "benthic (bottom dwelling organisms) like clams" - like giraffes but in reverse. Or like ducks, but on a much larger scale. And with far less quacking, I imagine. Shame about that part.
I do so wish that I could take photos of plesiosaurs inspecting their own crotches. That would be a photo worth having!
You can read an actual scientist discuss it here, including photos and artist-recreations.
In other news, people keep thinking that I'm younger than I actually am. Is it because I'm terribly immature? Who knows? Who cares? Not me. I'm too young to care. Woot!
I love it when things I love come together (like the time a cranky scientist and the female orgasm came together (so to speak)) and they have, yet again! Huzzah for me!
Ducks and dinosaurs.
Now, we all know that modern birds are descended from the same group of dinosaurs that included T-Rex and Velociraptor (Theropods) - which means that when you're fearing the fearsome fangs of the velociraptors in Jurassic Park you're afraid of an ancestor (kinda) of a mallard - but some recently discovered fossilized colon contents (bromalite) of some elasmosaurid plesiosaurs pointed to some very different dinosaurs being duck-like!
You know those dinosaurs that you see artist-recreations of that have flippers and long necks? (Like the Loch Ness monster, except real.) Those long necks may not have been for getting to quick-swimming fish, as was previously thought. They may simply have been a way for the beasties in question to duck (ha!) their heads way down to the bottom of the ocean to scoop up "benthic (bottom dwelling organisms) like clams" - like giraffes but in reverse. Or like ducks, but on a much larger scale. And with far less quacking, I imagine. Shame about that part.
I do so wish that I could take photos of plesiosaurs inspecting their own crotches. That would be a photo worth having!
You can read an actual scientist discuss it here, including photos and artist-recreations.
In other news, people keep thinking that I'm younger than I actually am. Is it because I'm terribly immature? Who knows? Who cares? Not me. I'm too young to care. Woot!
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
d20:
dude, it totally would have had to be The Fresh Prince of Bethlehem. i mean come on, it's christian hip hop perfection!
luverly:
heya! super late notice, but u know me & time these days...however, if you're around & about this eve, come by the store (umeboshi - 21st & Main) ...tis the grand opening from 6:30 - 10.:30, drinks, nibble-ies (ie food), shoes & me! come later if u can, would love to see u...if not, we'll fnd each other soon enough