Talk:Dinosaur

Template:Past cotw

Paleogeographical range

There is virtually nothing in the article on this topic, when I think it is an important detail. As well as being a diverse and varied group, they were also incredibly widespread, and believed to have inhabited most terrestrial ecosystems on Earth during the Mesozoic. Indeed, this should have mention. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.36.130.109 (talk) 01:25, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Dinosaurs as Aquatic Animals

A British scientist claims that dinosaurs were too heavy to have been terrestrial animals, and that they spent most of their time floating in shallow rivers and lakes. Furthermore, he says that the tail was a swimming aid instead of a tool used for balance on land. I don't buy this hypothesis myself, but I put the info here just to alert the dino-nuts on this encyclopedia about this new theory. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dinolover45 (talk • contribs) 14:14, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

The guy is a crackpot with no evidence and no knowledge of dinosaur anatomy. A group of paleontologists are currently petitioning the BBC to retract this ridiculous story. Note that this "researcher" published his "theory" in a magazine with no references and no peer review. The "study" consisted of him looking at pictures of dinosaurs and thinking they didn't look right. That's it. Totally worthless and not science. It's deeply unfortunate this was picked up by every media outlet on earth including the BBC. Apparently nobody checks facts anymore. [1] MMartyniuk (talk) 14:30, 5 April 2012 (UTC)

Good grief! Petter Bøckman (talk) 07:55, 6 April 2012 (UTC)

Phew, that's a relief. Come to think of it, wasn't this a popular theory in the 1930s that has been disproven since then? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.36.130.109 (talk) 17:08, 6 April 2012 (UTC)

It was a popular theory right up till the 1980s, and is still occasionally presented as fact. I don't know anything about this purported study, and I don't support the idea of amphibious sauropods. But I do think that as wikipedians we need to treat this historical idea with some respect. At the time it was based on the science at the time, although we now know it was misinterpreted. The idea was supported by sound palaeontologists. It's an important idea in the history of palaeontology and it is so often ridiculed on these talk pages or grudgingly glossed over in articlers.Gazzster (talk) 02:39, 18 September 2012 (UTC)

And to be fair to the report in question, if this is it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3310531.stm, the study does not claim that sauropods were aquatic, or needed to live in water. It only claims that an amphibious lifestyle is not inconsistent with their physiology. And it goes on to say that if they moved into deep water they would have experienced difficulties.Gazzster (talk) 03:51, 20 September 2012 (UTC)

Niggling

"CT-scanning revealed the evidence of air sacs within the body cavity of the Aerosteon skeleton" ?! I'm not sure that's how a CT scan works with a fossil. I think "CT-scanning of Aerosteon's fossil bones revealed evidence for the existence of air sacs within the animal's body cavity" is better phrased. Dracontes (talk) 11:46, 4 May 2012 (UTC)

Spinosaurids as semi-aquatic

At some point, the text of the article states "†Megalosauroidea (early group of large carnivores including the semi-aquatic spinosaurids)". I think it's a bit far-fetched to call Spinosaurids semi-aquatic. Should I remove the statement? DaMatriX (talk) 23:15, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

It would at most be semi-amphibic. I'd say remove. Petter Bøckman (talk) 07:31, 21 September 2012 (UTC)

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs that archeologists discover and observe as prehistoric fossils were once the dominant terrestial vertabraes that ever existed in the the environment which surrounds us but due to the sub-zero effects of the climate that we humans have adapted to, their diverse population has seized to exist since the triassic period.

During the era which these creatures existed, an immense quantity of them behaved in a brutal and sinister manner towards the other classifications of these dinosaurs whilst some were eco-friendly and peaceful in their surroundings;Behaviour — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.22.124.45 (talk) 20:21, 21 September 2012 (UTC)

Dinosaurs were extremely adaptable animals, and it was not climate change that contributed to their demise, despite popular belief. They dealt with all kinds of changes in the climate and environment during their 165+ million years on Earth. Their demise was brought on by an extraordinary cataclysm, usually thought to have been an asteroid or a comet that slammed into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago. To put it simply, your statement is invalid, my fellow unsigned contributor.--24.36.130.109 (talk) 00:14, 28 September 2012 (UTC)