* ''Aristonectes'' has been made for no reason at all other than that it was possible. Looks like an elasmosaurid that ran into a wall... --[[User:Slate Weasel|Slate Weasel]] ([[User talk:Slate Weasel|talk]] <nowiki>|</nowiki> [[Special:Contributions/Slate Weasel|contribs]]) 22:42, 14 April 2019 (UTC)
* ''Aristonectes'' has been made for no reason at all other than that it was possible. Looks like an elasmosaurid that ran into a wall... --[[User:Slate Weasel|Slate Weasel]] ([[User talk:Slate Weasel|talk]] <nowiki>|</nowiki> [[Special:Contributions/Slate Weasel|contribs]]) 22:42, 14 April 2019 (UTC)
::''Tricleidus'' decided to come along, too. Pinging {{u|Eotyrannu5}}, who made the skeletal I based this image on, for feedback. --[[User:Slate Weasel|Slate Weasel]] ([[User talk:Slate Weasel|talk]] <nowiki>|</nowiki> [[Special:Contributions/Slate Weasel|contribs]]) 23:14, 14 April 2019 (UTC)
::''Tricleidus'' decided to come along, too. Pinging {{u|Eotyrannu5}}, who made the skeletal I based this image on, for feedback. --[[User:Slate Weasel|Slate Weasel]] ([[User talk:Slate Weasel|talk]] <nowiki>|</nowiki> [[Special:Contributions/Slate Weasel|contribs]]) 23:14, 14 April 2019 (UTC)
:::I've updated that very recently, might want to update the chart accordingly [[User:Eotyrannu5|Eotyrannu5]] ([[User talk:Eotyrannu5|talk]]) 14:12, 15 April 2019 (UTC)
This page is mainly for reviewing the accuracy of non-dinosaur paleoart (usually by the artists themselves, but anyone who wants an image scrutinized is welcome to post them for review). Any other image, such as size comparisons or photos of skeletal mounts, can also be posted here to review their accuracy.
If you want to submit paleoart images for accuracy review, place them here as well as links to what you used as references. If you want to participate as reviewer, you can put the page on your watchlist. New images of any type can also be requested by including "Request:" in the section title, and if submitted, such an image will thereafter be reviewed here. Once an image has been approved and added to an article, its section can be archived.
Images that have been deemed inaccurate should be placed in the Wikimedia Commons category "Inaccurate paleoart"[4], so they can be easily located for correction. User created images are not considered original research, per WP:OI and WP:PERTINENCE[a], but it is appreciated if sources used are listed in file descriptions (this is often requested during Featured Article reviews).
If image is included for historical value. In these cases the image caption should explain that it is an outdated reconstruction. Historical interest images should not be used in the taxobox, but preferably in a section of the text discussing the history of a taxon.
Criteria sufficient to remove an image:
Image differs appreciably from known skeletal elements.
Example: If Lystrosaurus is reconstructed with four fingers.
Example: If an hesperornithid bird known only from postcranial elements is reconstructed without teeth, a feature made highly improbable by its phylogenetic position.
Image differs appreciably from known non-skeletal elements.
Example: If a restoration of Castorocauda lacks hair.
Image differs appreciably from implied non-skeletal elements.
Example: Scaphognathus should not be depicted without pycnofibres, since phylogenetic bracketing implies that it had them.
Image pose differs appreciably from known range of motion.
Example: Plesiosaurs reconstructed with overly flexible necks.
Exception: If the range of motion is debated in the scientific literature, as is the case with sauropod neck position.
Image depicts a scene which is anachronistic or contradicts known geographic range.
These reconstructions by Ghedoghedo seem to be based on other people's reconstructions, I've put links to the originals in the infoboxes. The most damning is the Watongia reconstruction, which is strange as Dmitry's work is used on Wikipedia. Monsieur X (talk) 12:28, 12 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe they are just based on the same skeletals? FunkMonk (talk) 12:38, 12 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps, but these reconstructions also show up as the first results on google images and are much older than Ghedoghedo reconstructions. It also seem oddly coincidental that Ghedoghedo's Apsisaurus head looks quite similar to Theropsida's Mycterosaurus , when Ghedoghedo could of easily used a Archaeovenator skeletal, which there are many of just on google images (not counting David Peters' horrid work) and none look like Theropsida's Mycterosaurus. The hind foot that's off the ground on Ghedoghedo's Heleosaurus just looks like it was poorly traced from Theropsida's reconstruction. Monsieur X (talk) 14:16, 12 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps Ghedo~enwiki will react to a ping so we can hear what's gong on. FunkMonk (talk) 17:41, 12 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Not sure about those other two, but that first one is very blatant; and if one was plagiarized, that's a big red mark against the other ones. Lusotitan (Talk | Contributions) 22:05, 12 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
If a clear case can be built for them, and if the images they are based on aren't already free, they should be nominated for deletion. FunkMonk (talk) 12:34, 13 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I have found three images that seem to be plagiarized from The Macmillan Illustrated Encylopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life, even retaining the same perspectives. We've gotta do a thorough examination of Ghedoghedo's life restorations. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 21:38, 26 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I also made this. Does it look okay? I restored it with a caudal fin, although that might not have been a good choice... --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 16:05, 17 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
For added visibility, it is now blue. Does this look better than white? Also, should I add in N. giganteus? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 13:35, 23 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Can't say much about accuracy (which is why I never commented), but to answer your questions, Slate Weasel, yeah, blue looks better, and sure, why not add other species? FunkMonk (talk) 15:22, 6 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Are these restorations accurate, inaccurate or in need of adjustments? I've also edit and cleaned the first five restorations and wanted to know your thoughts Monsieur X (talk) 10:41, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Seems a bunch of them are missing ear openings? And yeah, maybe the skin on that Hipposaurus could be smoothed out with something like Photoshops's blur tool. As for the teeth, that's of course uncertain, but I do agree that incisors and molars (if that term applies here) would most likely be covered by the lips when mouths were closed. FunkMonk (talk) 13:31, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I wouldn't give them visible ear openings. The mammalian tympanum is probably not homologous to the saurian tympanum, so a tympanum might not have been present in biarmosuchians (the earliest good evidence for a tympanum is in dicynodonts).[1][2] Even if it was present, it was probably located on the lower jaw and not behind the skull, so that Herpetoskylax is wrong.[3] I also see no reason to place the tympanum deep within an ear opening (honestly, with it located on the side of the lower jaw I'm not even sure if that would be possible). This hasn't been discussed in the literature to my knowledge, but I don't see why it couldn't have looked like a frog or turtle ear in which the membrane is flush with the surface of the head and potentially difficult to recognize as a tympanum. Agreed that the incisors and postcanines should be hidden by lips—and I don't see why the canines wouldn't be either, at least in this group. Ornithopsis (talk) 19:49, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
They are both amniotes after all, and even some amphibians have externally visible tympani, so why wouldn't synapsids? Even if the tympani evolved independently somehow, why does this rule out openings in synapsids? We know all their descendants have them. In any case, like with the lips, if the issue hasn't been covered by peer reviewed literature, we should follow how the animals have usually been reconstructed in reliable sources. Making our own novel interpretations is close to original research. FunkMonk (talk) 20:04, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The tympana of mammals, frogs, and saurians are probably not homologous structures. I meant to say that it is possible that the tympanum was flush with the surface of the head, like in turtles and frogs, rather than set in a canal like in mammals, lizards, and archosaurs. Additionally, it is uncertain whether biarmosuchians would have had a tympanum at all, as its presence is not confirmed in synapsids more basal than dicynodonts. Therefore, the lack of an obvious ear opening is not necessarily wrong, but an ear opening behind the skull (as in the Herpetoskylax) probably is wrong. Can you show me a reliable source that depicts biarmosuchians with a visible ear opening? I've shown reliable sources that show that the one illustration here with a visible ear opening is probably wrong (at least, in the placement of the opening). My point is not that I think they should be drawn without an ear opening, but that I don't think they need to be edited to have one. Ornithopsis (talk) 20:28, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
That is similar to the issue of completely covering oversized canines, though. We just don't know, so why bother making such edits? We have living examples of animals with and without, so imposing one is personal bias. In the case of early synapsids, we know even less. FunkMonk (talk) 20:36, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
That's exactly my point. I don't think they need to be edited to be given external ear openings, because the jury is out on that one. Ornithopsis (talk) 20:40, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
In that case, it is up to personal whims with these images. There is nothing unquestionably wrong with them, except for maybe the ear placement you mentioned, and the scaly one. Personally, I'd add indications of ears, and cover all teeth but the canines. FunkMonk (talk) 21:02, 13 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I'm back from my "holiday" and have cleaned and fixed most of the Biarmosuchian related images on the site. However, outside of a few changes here and there, I wasn't able to fix the Hipposaurus reconstruction, so if anyone wants to finish it, be my guest. Also, any critiques on the more recently updated images? (I need a good chart so I can properly add missing ear holes) Monsieur X (talk) 11:16, 22 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I can look into this, might be difficult as the scales cover all colour and shading detail unfortunately. Paleocolour❯❯❯Talk 06:27, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Following my discussion with FunkMonk on the Inostrancevia reconstruction below, I want to point out, again, that none of these should have an ear hole behind the skull like that, their absence as originally depicted was correct, and ear holes should not have been added. Ornithopsis (talk) 16:20, 1 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Hi! I would like to post my lateral reconstruction of Cretoxyrhina at its article and potentially replace the prior one featured there. Any critiques and advice are welcome. --Damouraptor (talk | contribs) 18:00, 28 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Nice to see you contributing art! It looks pretty good, not too different anatomically from the current version. I'm not particularly knowledgable on sharks though, so any of the other reviewers who are should probably take it from here. ▼PσlєοGєєкƧɊƲΔƦΣƉ▼ 22:23, 28 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The eye does seem to be pretty huge, and the scarring may be a little over the top. But it is stylistically a nice image. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 23:08, 28 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, not sure whats up with that eye, looks like the size in much smaller sharks. FunkMonk (talk) 14:46, 1 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The eye is not based on the current restoration's one, it is based on the size of the eye sockets. They are much larger in comparison to sharks of similar dimensions, but I do understand shrinking it might be a plausible choice to make. As for the scarring, I felt it may serve as a way to display a narrative of sorts, to deviate from basic shark profiles, such as the one currently present on the ginsu shark wiki page. Of course I am not above removing them if it may be derogatory towards an accurate and plausible reconstruction by the standards here. --Damouraptor (talk | contribs) 19:23, 9 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]File:Cretoxyrhina skeletal reconstruction.pngA skeletal reconstruction of Cretoxyrhina mantellii from Shimada et al. (2006).
It appears sharks also have structures akin to the sclerotic rings of reptiles, and likewise, the visible eye shouldn't fill up the entire socket, only the inner ring of the structure. So if the eye is drawn the same diameter as the socket, it is too large. FunkMonk (talk) 01:41, 10 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The eye in my reconstruction does not fill up the eye socket, the eye is barely half the diameter of the socket, if not less. It is not incredibly implausible for these dimensions. --Damouraptor (talk | contribs) 16:40, 10 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The picture look accurate to me, it's been discussed for over a month, and the only critique that's been brought up seems to check out, I'd say go on ahead and add it and good work. It looks really realistic User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 22:34, 10 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Not sure if two almost identical restorations are warranted in an article, though. But it has just been GA nominated, let the writer decide. As for that skeletal drawing, it is definitely not CC licensed[www.jstor.org/stable/4095809], so it should be nominated for deletion on Commons. FunkMonk (talk) 23:00, 10 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
If it comes to choosing only one I'd say use Damuoraptor's over the current restoration, since it is of higher artistic quality anyways. ▼PσlєοGєєкƧɊƲΔƦΣƉ▼ 23:39, 10 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The paleoart shown here is exceptional in its artistic qualities. However, if I had to choose between the two as they are right now for an artwork solely meant as a profile restoration, I'd still prefer the current one on the article. Still, if you can tweak the body, snout, and pectoral fin to match Shimada (1997)'s design and make the background either a more natural scene or plain white, it could become a better replacement for the current restoration. I also do not believe that the scars are appropriate for a profile restoration, although it would be perfect for a scenic restoration. And although it does not really matter, a slightly or somewhat lighter coloring of the currently blackish countershading (similar colors to that of lamnids and alopiids) could be another suggestion. Macrophyseter (talk) 02:59, 12 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I would also agree that restorations used to show the features of an animal here should be idealised, showing "healthy" individuals. Though yes, scarring adds realism, we wouldn't use a photo of a mangled lion to display its features in the lion article either. It distracts from the purpose. FunkMonk (talk) 04:52, 12 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Ginsu shark (Cretoxyrhina mantellii)
Here is a revised reconstruction made of the criticism and new research made upon Cretoxyrhina, courtesy of Shimada himself in the 2018 SVP meeting, here https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328494323_SVP_Poster-2018, among others. The background is now white, colors have been tweaked to depict a lighter midsection, spots are present but dimmed out, the injuries/scarring is completely gone (though tapering cuts are present on the pectoral and dorsal fins), and it overall a more sleeker aesthetic compared with the previous recon. Coloration overall is based upon large extant predatory sharks, white shark, tiger shark, and shortfin mako among them, and the eye is 1/3 the size of the eye socket, which it itself constitutes over a 1/3 of the total skull length. Overall, I hope this does justice to my prior recon and better represents Cretoxyrhina as a whole. --Damouraptor (talk | contribs) 20:46, 29 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Damouraptor, when you are giving courtesy to "Shimada himself", are you implying you personally meet/contacted Shimada, or citing credit for that poster? Nevertheless, this new one is the stuff of legend. I absolutely love the coloring, the body design is perfect, overall it looks a lot more powerful, realistic, and appealing than the current one. This is defiantly going to be replacing the current one for sure, expect your work to be on the article later tonight as I finish my modifications accordingly to the first barrage of FAC reviews. Phenomenal work! Macrophyseter | talk 03:08, 30 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I referred to Shimada as in citing his work from poster itself. Hopefully no confusion was made. However, I do have contact with someone who attended the talk with Shimada during SVP. Otherwise, I haven't made communication. I am excited and happy this will get featured in the Cretoxyrhina article! --Damouraptor (talk | contribs) 22:55, 29 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Request: Thalassocnus size diagram and life restoration
I noticed that Dunkleosteus77 aims to take Thalassocnus to FA, and for that it would probably be best to have a size comparison and life restoration ready (as is customary). I was thinking of doing the life restoration (I did the ground sloth Nothrotheriops once), but someone else could probably do a better diagram. Any ideas on how the restoration should look? FunkMonk (talk) 22:33, 3 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The one here seems most accurate to me. I don’t get why the other restorations have hair if it’s aquatic, that would produce a lot of drag. Thanks for doing this User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 01:42, 4 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, I see there's precedence for a hairless restoration then, though seals and sea otters of course have fur. Any request for skin colour? FunkMonk (talk) 09:32, 4 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I always imagined it was either a gray, maybe a gray-blue, and kinda pinky in places; or a sand color with darker coloration on the extremities and face. Other restorations I’m seeing have really long, flowing sloth hair which, for something that was 9 to 11 feet long and dog paddled, does not seem very plausible considering it spent a lot of time underwater. However, before you start, I should tell you the study describing it used a depiction that gave it a lot of hair User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 13:48, 4 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I’ll see if I can carve out time for a size diagram. I was planning on doing a reconstruction last month but I’ve been so busy User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 00:20, 6 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I'm doing it in paint, and, after resizing, everything's going all pixelly. Are there any good blurring tools? User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 23:03, 6 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm... I'd definitely try to do it in SVG, using a program like Inkscape (that's how I made my entire gallery of size comparisons here). Not sure what you mean by "paint." MS Paint? Physical paint? If you want a good non-SVG program, then GIMP would be a good choice. But in SVG, there are no pixels, so everything retains its former quality, so that's why it's the desired file type for size comparisons. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 23:15, 6 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I couldn't figure out how to use either of those applications. All I have right now still are three pixally sloths in MS paint User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 00:22, 7 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe a couple of days late to join this conversation, but I just wanted to point out that the majority of semiaquatic mammals (polar bears, pinnipeds, otters, assorted small mammals such as beavers and platypus) are furry, and Thalassocnus does not look like an animal which evolved under strong selective pressure to minimise drag. I don't see any compelling argument against fur, myself, though I wouldn't call a hairless reconstruction incorrect either. Ornithopsis (talk) 14:31, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Those animals are largely terrestrial, and fur seals and platypuses don’t really have long silky hair User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 16:13, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Here is a work in progress sketch.[5] The pose is based on that skeleton in Paris, but do we have any idea which species that is supposed to be? FunkMonk (talk) 17:46, 9 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
concept sketch looks good. As for the skeleton, when you took the picture, did you see this next to it? User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 18:44, 9 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, nice, could be added to the image caption in the article, I'll add it to the Commons file description. I don't remember that model being there when I took the photo, but it was 10 years ago, so... FunkMonk (talk) 18:52, 9 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Started to colour in the front of the animal[6], is this something like what you had in mind? It is surprising how extremely different all restorations of this animal seem to be from each other. This one will be one of the more outlandish ones, hehe... But the Carl Buell illustration at least gives a published precedent for such an interpretation. FunkMonk (talk) 20:50, 9 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah it’s looking really good so far. Appearance in this case is really just anyone’s game User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 21:13, 9 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Here's the coloured version, any thoughts? FunkMonk (talk) 14:35, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
It looks really good, but looking at sloth pictures, do you think it would have had jet black eyes? User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 16:13, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The eye colour was based on the two toed sloth, which has reddish brown eyes. Even three toed sloths appear to have dark brown, rather than black, eyes. The two toed sloth is also closer related to some ground sloths than it is to the three toed sloth, so perhaps gives a better idea of how they would look. FunkMonk (talk) 16:50, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
That’s fair. Ground sloths are not really a taxon so I’m not sure if Thalassocnus is more closely related to either or. Anyways, it looks really good, kind of a cartoony flair to it; if you’re done, go ahead and put it up. You can move around or delete any images you want if you need to User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 18:38, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, the "cartooniness" would be due to the retained contours, I can probably get rid of them if we want that. As for where to place the image, I'm wondering if the seal head is really needed? After all, just because the nostrils are placed a certain place on the skull doesn't indicate where they were in life, so it is a bit misleading to show a living seal. Likewise, the Megalonyx image is probably redundant now that we have a restoration showing the same limb posture (the limb bone cross sections could be placed there instead). Removing those could make room for the restoration and a size diagram. Perhaps Slate Weasel would be interested in doing the diagram? Fun×kMonk (talk) 18:51, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I’ve already made the diagram in MS Paint, silhouettes are all ready and scaled up, but I’m still in the process of figuring out Inkscape’s depixel feature. Worst case scenario, I’ll upload the pixels and then maybe Slate Weasel could sic Inkscape on it User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 21:18, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
If worst comes to worst, then yes, I can vectorize it. I've done it a few other times, like here. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 21:22, 10 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Okay so the GIMP thing wasn't working out so here it is in its enpixellated glory. Do you think I got the proportions right? The T. littoralis holotype is supposed to be a female so it should be thinner and have a blunter snout if I'm reading this right because it seems to suggest only males had a proboscis-oid snout. The colors got washed out a little for some reason too User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 03:24, 12 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Looks cool! I had expected them in side view, not that it makes much of a difference, though it would probably be easier to find reference images. The claws look very long and slender compared to the skeletons, though. And even without the long snouts, the skulls would be a lot more narrow and elongated than what's shown here. See the dorsal view of the skull here:[7]FunkMonk (talk) 03:44, 12 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Looks better, seems the heads would also be narrower, not only longer. Also, remember to see if the had length matches measurements given in papers. FunkMonk (talk) 03:44, 13 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Don't know much more to have anything clever to add. What were the images based on? Any figures? FunkMonk (talk) 13:25, 14 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The ref in the description, there’s a skeletal reconstruction of T. natans near the beginning and an illustration of T. yuacensis near the end, and some other proportions given in between User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 02:55, 15 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Hmmm, I think the ears are maybe placed too far forwards (compared to for example here[8]). But hell, I don't really know much about these guys... FunkMonk (talk) 00:00, 29 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Seems the head is proportionally longer there (almost as long as the lower arm)? That also seems to be more in line with the mounted skeletons I used for reference. FunkMonk (talk) 22:28, 30 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I thought that was perspective, the forearm should be longer than the head because it reaches beyond to the plant and the elbow looks a little in front of the ear. But either way, yeah, the forearm is too long, it should be more like T. littoralis. How do we fix this? User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 00:58, 31 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Should be fairly easy by cutting and pasting. FunkMonk (talk) 04:40, 12 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry I forgot about this. I made the forearms shorter. Now, if that's everything, Slate Weasel I need you to smooth out the edges again. I assume you'll upload the new version onto the SVG file? User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 23:16, 17 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Hi everyone. I decided to update my Diictodon restoration, as I noted there were some inaccuracies in my previous restoration. The restoration is based on the skeleton showed in this paper (if you cannot see it there is also this skeletal from another paper, Diictodon is on the top right). I hope the new version of the restoration is more accurate than the previous one. Thoughts? --El fosilmaníaco (talk) 11:50, 13 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
You've restored it with pretty sharp claws, but the skeletals don't seem to indicate this. It might be better to blunt them. However, this may be a burrower, so I'll let someone with more synapsid knowledge decide what to do. Definitely an improvement. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 12:51, 13 October 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Made another prehistoric shark, this time Squalicorax falcatus. It is based on the skeletal reconstruction in Shimada and Cicimurri (2005), with features like the fins' shapes being derived from modern lamnids (due to their comparatively close affiliations compared to other extant sharks with anacoracids) and requiem sharks (as many species likely filled ecological niches and behaviors akin to S. falcatus). And yes, the upper caudal fin is suppose to curve in the angle it is shown in. The coloration also echoes the latter group, with species like the silvertip shark and oceanic whitetip shark serving as prime inspirations. As with my ginsu shark reconstruction, I aim at replacing the older Squalicorax art currently present on the wiki page, as it is rather inaccurate and aesthetically unpleasing, at least in my opinion. I hope this shark will get get better representation in paleoart than it has in the past, so I appreciate the potential for this to make it into the article. --Damouraptor (talk | contribs) 21:01, 18 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Damouraptor First I would like to ask if you actually have access to Shimada and Circumurri (2005), as last time I checked I think it was paywalled and in order to get that skeletal reconstruction someone ought to have posted it elsewhere. (If you don't have access to the paper, just let me know and I'll see what I can do (I'm not a scientist, I'm simply an ordinary person who managed to get access to a lot of papers)) But you are certainly correct on the assumption that Squalicorax is essentially a lamnoid that was carcharhinoid-like, and I really like how you tried to reflect this. However, I would like to note that Squalicorax is still a pelagic shark and that it must have features that any pelagic shark has including fins and bodies designed for long distance and at times fast swimming.
So one major thing that could use some tweaking is the angle of the caudal fin; it's too bent down and designed for shallow life. If you can raise the angle of the upper lobe of the caudal fin (keep the lower lobe as it is), it'll make the art a lot more pelagic-like. I recommend taking inspiration of this change from lamnids and confirmed pelagic requiem sharks like the blue shark. Another thing is that appears that the head kind of deviates from the original Shimada and Circimurri (2005) reconstruction (such as a less flat dorsal). I would caution this as the head reconstruction is the most accurate based on actual well-preserved head fossils and recommend something like vertically shrinking the head region a bit. Here's an image with some of the possible tweaks in place: https://i.imgur.com/UQ27fEx.png
Still, don't let this artwork down! It's so much better than that unpleasantly creepy current one and just simply needs a few easy tweaks that can be done without going back to the drawing board. I absolutely love the texture inspired from whitetip sharks and your willingness to make art to represent extinct sharks. With some easy changes, this one probably could make it into the article. Macrophyseter | talk 20:02, 22 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Here are some life reconstructions. This new study showed that Ichthyosaurs had blubber. I also gave the Archelon an appearance similar to a Leatherback sea turtle. In case you are wondering, the birds depicted in the Archelon picture are only generic Enantiornithes slightly smaller than a modern Seagull. Opinions? PaleoEquii (talk) 18:07, 6 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I wonder if the Archelon is too leatherback-like, down to the exact number and shape of the longitudinal ridges. I think you would have to keep the distinguishing features of that species a bit less obvious. As is, it just looks like a drawing of a leatherback turtle, what makes it distinctly Archelon? FunkMonk (talk) 18:19, 6 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
About the ichthyosaurs, that blubber specimen was also shown to be counter shaded, which could be taken into account here (it is common across many marine groups). And oh, this should be at WP:Paleoart. FunkMonk (talk) 23:22, 6 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
The colouring is slightly counter-shaded, with some whale influence due to their size. The counter-shading however would be significantly less noticeable underwater, if it is working as intended. PaleoEquii (talk) 19:50, 12 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Reading the Ichthyosaur blubber study here, it says the skin was dark topside and light underside like in modern dolphins, and it compares skin texture to whales and the leatherback sea turtle. The former isn't seen here (though that might just be perspective for Shonisaurus) and I feel Shonisaurus is lacking the latterUser:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 19:03, 17 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I've expanded Archelon a lot now, you can check the article for anatomical details. The big ones I see right now are the beak needs to be more hooked (think of an eagle beak), the head should maybe be flatter and longer, and there's only 1 ridge along the carapace and it runs across the midline User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 00:41, 28 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Skeletal diagram of Riojasuchus Size of Riojasuchus
I have created a skeletal diagram and size diagram of Riojasuchus for the Wiki article I plan on expanding. Let me know if any changes are needed. Thanks. Paleocolour❯❯❯Talk 11:45, 15 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
What was your source in these reconstructions? I wasn't aware of good pictures or descriptions of this taxon's postcranial remains. Fanboyphilosopher (talk) 02:24, 17 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, on the Commons where it says “Source,” it’s asking what you based your drawings on (like what’s your ref). When it asks “Author,” that’s when you credit yourself User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 18:38, 17 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Source is also for specifying if it is self made. I would usually keep citations in the description field. FunkMonk (talk) 18:42, 17 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, putting your references and citations in "source" is a great way to get your stuff nominated for deletion for copyvio by overly suspicious users. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 22:29, 17 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Canid size chart request
Hi, I was told by FunkMonk that requests regarding extant fauna are also accepted here.
Would it be possible to make a size chart (with human silhouette) of the grey wolf, golden jackal and red fox using these three images as templates? Wolf, Jackal and Fox.
Obviously, the image will be very eurocentric, but I may get around to projecting one for North America and Africa.
Anyway, the shoulder heights are: Grey wolf = 80 cm Golden jackal = 45 cm Red fox = 35 cm.
Yeah, since it is unlikely there will ever be a similar request page for extant animals, and since we have already had size comparisons that incorporated extant animals here before[9], I thought it would be fine. FunkMonk (talk) 19:22, 17 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Here is the Vancleavea size comparison that I promised to make long, long ago. I do already have Volgatitan for V, but I'm not gonna let that stop me from submitting this here! Pinging our Vancleavea expert Fanboyphilosopher. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 14:47, 25 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Perhaps there could be more of a difference between the green used for the animal and the blue used for the water background? Right now they're too similar and it makes the outline of the Vancleavea harder to see (for me anyways). ▼PσlєοGєєкƧɊƲΔƦΣƉ▼ 16:35, 25 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
"Vancleavea expert". Oh, you flatter me. I agree with PaleoGeekSquared on the topic of the coloration, I think that the blue does more harm than good. A normal white background is better in my opinion. The proportions generally look quite solid; I was a bit unsure about the leg but now I see that it was just extended in a different way than the 2009 paper's skeletal. The arms are more iffy, they just look like little vestigial flaps in your diagram. They shouldn't be significantly smaller than the legs, and maybe you could differentiate the fingers a bit to make it clear that they aren't just like little tentacles. Fanboyphilosopher (talk) 18:41, 25 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Does this look better (I used the life restoration as a rough guide)? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 00:50, 26 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
So Bubblesorg's been pretty busy making/finding art for O. citoniensis. He asked someone from DeviantArt to make him a quick reconstruction, so if there's anything anatomically unsound (which I'm not seeing) I'm not sure there'd be much Bubblesorg can do, although Bubblesorg, you might wanna ask the guy to retake the picture so nothing gets cut off. As for the size charts, I'm not sure if they have the right dimensions, O. citoniensis should be 4 m (13 ft) and the orca 7 or 10 m (23 or 33 ft), and they don't seem to conform with any of the other size charts on Wikipedia so I don't know if I should use them or not. I don't think the O. citoniensis in the size diagrams should have so high a dorsal fin or broad flippers (which the DeviantArt reconstruction captures perfectly). Anybody willing to help out? User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 00:53, 28 December 2018 (UTC)
its more 10 ft but ok let me see what i can do--Bubblesorg (talk) 05:44, 28 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know enough about cetaceans, but I can comment on the size comparisons. For the second one, O. citonensis comes out at ~3 meters and O. orca comes out at ~6 meters using a height of ~1.8 meters for the human, both short by one meter. The O. citonensis should be proportionally altered like Dunkleosteus said above instead of being an mini O. orca clone. Also, take out that gray background (replace it either with white, light blue, or transparency), move the human down so their between the two cetaceans, crop out a lot of space, capitalized Orcinus for O. citonensis, remove the title of Orcinus, and perhaps use a Sans font like other size comparison diagrams (although the last one's probably debatable). For the first size comparison, the background also shouldn't be gray, O. citonensis is still only ~3 meters, and it still looks like a tiny O. orcinus clone instead of reflecting the proportions mentioned above. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 12:43, 28 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
so that guy said he will change it but it will take time.--Bubblesorg (talk) 03:11, 16 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
What’s he changing? All our comments were about the size diagrams, not the reconstruction User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 02:59, 2 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
He said he may have to re do everything, but i think its fine
The reconstructions of Anteosaurus currently in use give it strange proportions that don't match the one anteosaur known from a substantial portion of the postcranial skeleton, Titanophoneus. I did a reconstruction which does match those proportions. Is this any good for use? Ornithopsis (talk) 18:11, 1 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe an issue with the shading, but the skeletal[10] would imply a deeper hip region behind the leg? Thinner thighs as well, I guess, since the ilium is so short. FunkMonk (talk) 04:56, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I checked and there's definitely enough room for the hips. The thigh is so thick because I put the M. pubo-ischio-femoralis externus going from the back of the leg to the ischium.Ornithopsis (talk) 12:59, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not totally convinced theres enough room for the ischium in the drawing, because it would be visible underneath the thigh, but its not. Good work otherwise, probably one of the best anteosaurus restorations. IJReid{{T - C - D - R}} 17:32, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Seems you linked the wrong file? FunkMonk (talk) 20:51, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
What are your sources? The silhouette's pretty rough, and the proportions seem kind of odd. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 21:27, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm, considering its position in the family of Otodontidae, it probably should not be so similar to the great white. Pinging Dunkleosteus77 for input. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 21:50, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Gotta be honest, it’s pretty rough, and I don’t think any of the proportions are right User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 22:36, 2 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
The body needs to be more streamlined, right now it’s really bumpy; the fins are absolutely enormous, and the transition from the flat head to the dorsal fin needs to be smoother, right now it just juts out; the tail fin isn’t shaped right I don’t think; the tail segment is too long in comparison to the rest of the body; are the teeth the right size?; why is it green?; what’s with all the notches in the fins?; why does it have a nose and why is it bleeding?; why are the gills bleeding? User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 18:08, 3 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
You're also missing a gill slit (mackerel sharks have five gill slits per side), I don't believe that I missed that previously. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 21:19, 3 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not too convinced by the coloration. Going by modern sharks like the Oceanic whitetip shark, tiger shark, great hammerhead, and even the copper shark, the brown should be a bit lighter. The vivid tan-yellow belly is odd, as virtually all pelagic and even coastal actively hunting sharks have a white belly, including thresher sharks, the great white shark, the porbeagle, the shortfin mako, and the sand tiger shark. Right now the coloration reminds me of benthic feeders and filter feeders. The gills don't even cast a shadow anymore (they create thin black lines on most mackerel sharks), the body seems rather rumpled still and pretty shapeless in some parts, like the region in between the 2nd dorsal fin and the caudal fin. The pelvic fin doesn't look like that of a lamnid, odontaspid, or cetorhinid. For the caudal fin, active swimmers generally have either a very strong keel in their tail to caudal fin transition (it can be seen pretty well here: File:Great White Shark (14730723649).jpg), an obvious cylindrical structure running through the upper lobe (as in this shark: File:Carcharias taurus SI.jpg) , or both (like here: File:Isurus oxyrinchus.jpg). The dip between the two lobes of the caudal fin is not present in lamnids, odontaspids, or cetorhinids. Both lobes are sticking out at unlikely angles, too. There may be additional inaccuracies and improbabilities. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 22:24, 3 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I should think that if it was an open ocean predator it would be blue, because brown sharks are typically benthic or reef sharks. I still think it’s really bumpy. Do you see how it sort of terraces to the head from the dorsal fin? Also you drew it with a really big overbite User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 02:30, 4 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Except for the pectorals, none of the other fins really have enough shading to make them seem realistically positioned. The caudal fin still feels undermuscled and is still a weird shape. The gills are really small, like in threshers, which have never been considered to be a potential close relative. They're much longer in lamnids, cetorhinids (probably not as long as in these guys, though), and odontaspids. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 12:17, 4 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Hello everyone! I made a life reconstruction of atopodentatus and I would like to have it posted on the atopodentatus article. I created the image by heavily referencing the holotype skeleton as well as the newer 2016 skull reconstruction. Criticism is welcome. Spinosaurid (talk) 2:21, 11 January 2019 (UTC)
Looks quote good to me, though I wonder if the eye is a bit too large. FunkMonk (talk) 19:59, 12 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
It's nice to have a full-body restoration that's less distorted by perspective. Perhaps the pistosaur in the background could be beefed up around the torso a little bit? (by the way, you can add your signature with four tildas: ~~~~) --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 22:48, 12 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for the ping! But I'm afraid I know little about the animal being reconstructed. It seems to match the fossils from what I'm seeing though, and aesthetically it looks pretty good. ▼PσlєοGєєкƧɊƲΔƦΣƉ▼ 00:05, 13 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
So the background creature is Dinocephalosaurus then, it wouldn't make too big a difference but a slight change in anatomy and posture (to avoid continuing the swimming tanystropheid meme we see a lot) might be good. Plus from what I've heard it is doubtful even the smaller tanystropheids would be diving in the way it is seen here. --Damouraptor (talk | contribs) 18:15, 13 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I was about to say, that doesn't seem like a very effective way of swimming. Given its lanky body shape, I should think it should swim like a crocodile with its arms kept close to its body and the thrusting being done by the torso and tail User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 00:33, 14 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Okay i've made the eye smaller and have also fixed up the dinocephalosaurus to be swimming croc like and also closer to the surface.
There's also this alternate version i made with the dinocephalosaurus lower in the water then the other revamp. Spinosaurid (talk) 18:52, 14 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
What’d you base the swimming posture for Atopodentatus on? Also, you can upload new versions of images by scrolling all the way down in the File history section to the link “Upload a new version of this file” User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 20:16, 14 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Remember to upload over the old version when updating an image, it is better than having a new file for every version. FunkMonk (talk) 20:22, 14 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Okay sorry, I'll be sure to do that next time! Also, the swimming posture isn't necessarily base on anything. I wanted to make it look as though the Atopodentatus were slowing itself down and/or steering by raising it's arms. The rest of the posture I guess could be based on how reptiles (primarily crocodilians and squamates) swim. Spinosaurid (talk) 17:08, 15 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Do you know if it walked on the seafloor to eat? If so, the elbows should probably be bending up a little (I assume they can bend that way because the article says they could walk on land), or have the arms positioned slightly forward instead of backwards. Right now it looks like it's trying to do a stroke and it might give people the wrong idea User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 03:12, 16 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
As far as I'm aware, no. I was imagining that the atopodentatus would eat the vegetation whilst its body floated diagonally to the ocean floor. I wouldn't imagine that it would be impossible for them to eat while on the ocean floor, however that that may be too speculative of an idea to add to my drawing at the moment.
Yeah I read the article and I thought it was trying to say bottom feeding, but looking at it again, I suppose you’re right, so it looks good User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 17:14, 16 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
So since my artwork has been criticized and deemed accurate, is it possible now for it to be placed on the atopodentatus article? Spinosaurid (talk) 18:36, 24 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Spinosaurid Sorry you were left hanging! I took the liberty of adding your restoration to the article, since all the issues seem to have been sorted out. ▼PσlєοGєєкƧɊƲΔƦΣƉ▼ 18:57, 27 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
The user who drew Thanos has also uploaded a Lisowicia and Gordodon, the latter of which has been added to the article. How accurate is it? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 13:36, 19 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Only a couple things stick out to me on the Gordodon. First is the ear hole, which shouldn't be there as pelycosaur-grade synapsids wouldn't have any visible external ears. The other thing is that there doesn't seem to be any sign of the "cross-bar" tubercles on its neural spines, which should at least be visible on the sail above the 'hump' at the bottom (the presence of those tubercles all the way down the neural spines might also go against the interpretation of a 'hump' at the bottom, but that point seems more debatable). I'm a bit unsure about the skin texture with rows of large rounded 'scales', but it doesn't seem so egregiously wrong as to be detrimental to the picture in my opinion. DrawingDinosaurs (talk) 15:05, 20 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
We should probably contact the user so he can fix it. FunkMonk (talk) 02:57, 2 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Here are my marine reptile size comparisons. I've been playing with the idea of making a rogue's gallery or marine reptiles size comparison, and am considering finally doing it.
Taxa in need of review
It’d be kinda redundant to have both dorsal and lateral size diagrams (but that’s just my opinion), and for the Tylosaurus size diagram, you’ll have to ask Orthogonal Orthocone who took it down in October without giving a reason. It looks like it might’ve been an accident when s/he was shuffling text around User:Dunkleosteus77 |push to talk 15:36, 19 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
If kept in the same diagram as the lateral view, dorsal views should be fine. I don't think separate files were meant anyway? FunkMonk (talk) 19:44, 19 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, just one file, sort of like my Hibbertopterus (I'm still not done with it?!) By the way, how accurate is this Placodus skeletal: [11]? I love marine reptiles but lack much knowledge on them thanks to paywalls (seriously, it would be cheaper to buy 4 copies of the GSP field guide than to get access for 30 days on some papers!) --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 19:51, 19 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I think this or this would be even cheaper, haha... FunkMonk (talk) 20:32, 19 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
My apologies Slate Weasel, I did not mean to take down your diagram on the Tylosaurus page - it was a genuine mistake. I actually find these really helpful, so I don`t know what I was thinking. Please, please, put it back up! Orthogonal Orthocone (talk) 14:37, 27 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
That's a very unorthodox tail fluke, though? I'd expect something more like this (and what you have in the diagram):[13] Also, the fluke shouldn't really make the tail longer, as its tip would follow the length of the bony tail. FunkMonk (talk) 16:53, 20 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I was asked by someone if it was possible to add a size comparison into the Cretoxyrhina. Because the only one available at the time did not look like a good candidate, I decided to try making one myself. I've stuck on three size comparisons based on their associated fossil specimens (FHSM VP-2187, CMN 40906, NHMUK PV OR 4498) to try to illustrate a more representing view of C. mantelli size. Do you guys think this would be a good representation? Macrophyseter | talk 06:45, 21 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Looks good aesthetically, can't say much for accuracy... FunkMonk (talk) 15:20, 27 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Inostrancevia alexandri: too shrink-wrapped?
Hi all! I posted this on the Inostrancevia talk page, but I think it's more appropriate here.
I have some concerns about how the Inostrancevia illustration looks incredibly skeletal. I've seen sunken eyes, or prominent skull bone protrusions, or visible ribs on animals—but all of them at once makes it look sickly. The artist who made this doesn't even draw Inostrancevia like this anymore. Would someone review this?
Many of those furrows on the head could certainly be painted out. The pinnae and hair on the other restoration might not be proper, though. FunkMonk (talk) 20:08, 23 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I don't think that illustration is too bad, as it currently is, but it probably could be smoothed out. The ears on the newer illustration are pretty much definitely wrong, as FunkMonk said. Both illustrations have hair, and while I wouldn't reconstruct a gorgonopsian that way, it's not wrong. The faint whiskers both seem to have might be wrong, though.Ornithopsis (talk) 23:32, 23 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Whoops!
I went ahead and made the lines of the head less conspicuous, removed the whiskers, and gave it a weird ear opening. Only problem is, ther eis another image which uses the same drawing... FunkMonk (talk) 21:57, 27 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Is the newly dark spot behind the jaw articulation meant to be an ear opening? The ear, if present, should be on the side of the lower jaw (as Bogdanov had it originally), not behind the head. Otherwise this is a marked improvement.Ornithopsis (talk) 03:36, 28 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
So is that hole on the jaw in the original supposed to be the ear? I placed the ear in more or less the same position as what Mauricio Antón seems to do:[14][15]FunkMonk (talk) 11:57, 28 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Antón's reconstruction is likely to be wrong. It is widely agreed that, unlike sauropsids (which evolved an ear independently of synapsids), therapsids had an eardrum associated with the post-dentary elements of the lower jaw. It has been suggested that the eardrum may have extended to a post-quadrate position, or that a second eardrum was located there, but this appears to be considered unlikely. It has been shown that a post-quadrate eardrum would be non-functional if present and a single eardrum associated with the reflected lamina of the angular seems more likely. See Allin 1975, Gaetano and Abdala 2015, and Maier and Ruf 2016 for more information.Ornithopsis (talk) 04:36, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Do we have any idea of how it could have looked like? Any artwork? FunkMonk (talk) 09:40, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I haven't been able to find any sources that clearly present what the life appearance of the early therapsid tympanum would have looked like. Allin and Hopson 1992 depict the life appearance of a cynodont with the eardrum extending from the angular to the back of the skull, but that model seems to be met with skepticism in the more recent papers I cited, and besides, cynodonts have significantly more advanced ear anatomy from the condition present in gorgonopsians. From the way Allin (1975) describes the early form of the tympanum, as taut tissue extending across the gap between the reflected lamina and the retroarticular process, I doubt it would have been particularly obvious. Ornithopsis (talk) 19:55, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I might do a pass where I just paint over the ear then, have to paint out the teeth of the pareisausaur anyway, didn't notice them the first time. Unlikely something with teeth that short would have them poke out. FunkMonk (talk) 20:10, 31 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]
That sounds like the right choice to me. Ornithopsis (talk) 15:51, 1 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
The deed is done. Now someone just has to fix the other one. I might do it if no one has done it down the line. FunkMonk (talk) 02:53, 2 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Hello. I’ve created theee reconstructions of Hallucigenia using all known fossil evidence. You can read my reasoning behind this reconstruction here.[4]
I’d like these to replace the current reconstructions on the page. I’ve also put them in their proper sizes, with H. hongmeia as the largest. PaleoEquii (talk) 05:37, 25 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I was asked by a DeviantArt user to do a chart comparing Titanoboa to a green anaconda and a reticulated python; I'm assuming he was referring to the existing chart so it would make sense to modify it. I've applied some of the comments from the original image review [16] like adding a grid and some colour, added a little more detail etc. The work in progress can be seen here: [17]
One difference is the DA user wanted to use 6.95m for the python, which the Wiki article is stating is 'one of the largest scientifically measured'. (I'm not massively clued up on snakes but I read the source (Fredricksson 2005) and done a quick search and there are mentions a 10m python reported from 'Raven 1947'. The wiki article doesn't mention this so I'm guessing it doesn't count as 'scientifically measured'.) At the moment, the chart is using a captive snake "Medusa" at 7.67m. Would you guys prefer to use the 6.95m measurement or a wild python? Steveoc 86 (talk) 00:08, 23 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Here is a version with a 6.95m python. [18]Steveoc 86 (talk) 22:04, 25 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Looks cool, perhaps Gigantophis could also be added, and maybe other giant extinct taxa (if there are any)? I've always thought that it would be cool to have a diagram for snakes similar to Smokeybjb's crocodilian size comparison. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 22:19, 25 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I can certainly look into doing Gigantophis. Regarding Titanoboa; there is a SVP conference abstract [19] that provides a newer length estimate of 14.3m and a skull estimate. Are conference abstracts sufficient enough citation material? or is it still an 'unpublished idea'? Steveoc 86 (talk) 11:21, 26 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
It shouldn't be called Broghammerus reticulatus[20], and Python reticulatus wouldn't be correct either. The reticulated python doesn't belong in genus Python, and the proper name for this species is Malayopython reticulatus[21]Kiwi Rex (talk) 20:13, 29 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
That last link didn't work but thanks for the info, your comment led me to this interesting read [22] (which is linked to in the Wikiedpia article) I guess every scientific feild has it's 'outsiders'.
Here is a link to a potential newer version (not 'polished' and I havn't corrected the name yet) [23] In this version I have other estimates ( Titanoboa 14.3m (+/-1.28m) and Gigantophis 9.3-10.7) faded behind the main silhouettes. The larger version of Gigantophis is 10m in this diagram, splitting the difference between 9.3 and 10.7; trying showing both ends of the error margins clutters the diagram. Based on the research I've read, Madtsoiidae isn't well known morphologically so I based the torso depth on the height of the Gigantophis vertebrae and comparison to images of other large snake skeletons, which seem to be 4ish, maybe 5? times the height of a vertebra? (Anyone know of any concrete numbers?) The skull shape was based on a Wonambi naracoortensis skull diagram. Steveoc 86 (talk) 22:30, 29 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Ichthyovenator and Super Dromaeosaurus, sorry that this has taken so long. I kind of forgot about this one, but I've finally gotten around to attempting another update. Is this version any better? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 14:23, 28 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I think this version is more "neutral" respecting to the walking position of Hibbertopterus. SuperΨDro 16:05, 28 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]
This recontruction by Nobu Tamura is currently the only image of Umoonasaurus that we have. It is rather old and needs some corrections:
The nostrils are inexplicably huge
The paddles have a very oar-like appearance and don't account for the powerful musculature supported by the limb girdles. They also are missing the trailing edge
It is missing a caudal fin
Points two and three follow Witton's The Paleoartist's Handbook. Does anybody want to make the above changes?
I plan to draw the skull of this animal in dorsal and lateral views whenever I get time which may be weeks, or months if things go really badly :(. For this drawing, should I use a color key or in-image abbreviations?
Also, does anybody know of an Umoonasaurus/Leptocleidid skeletal? As usual, I'm thinking of making a size comparison. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 22:25, 6 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Should be pretty easy to fix. Have you considered giving it a try? I can give some hints for tools to use... FunkMonk (talk) 23:04, 6 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I've started to have a go at it, and will upload when finished. I use the clone/stamp tool for simple outline readjustment and painting out or drawing in lines and shrinking ears and nostrils, airbrushes to add in nostrils and ears, perspective to roughly distort something, smudge to smooth out unwanted texture or patterning and creating strangely-shaped new regions (i.e. caudal fins), rotate to change positions, scale to fix too big/small areas, multiple layers if I'm extending an appendage (i.e. neck elongation). I see that Umoonasaurus would have had quite a puny caudal fin based on a chart by Lythronax: [25]. Any recommendations for additional tools to use or other stuff to change? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 23:52, 6 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
You might be doing this already, but what I've found useful for being precise with additional elements of images I was adjusting (such as the caudal fin and larger paddles) is to draw the outline of these with some base colour, and then fill out the outline, rather than to try drawing these additional areas with the clone stump or any other imprecise tool Then they can easily be filled out afterwards with whatever tool you want. FunkMonk (talk) 00:19, 7 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I created these three plesiosaur size comparisons. Any comments on them and their accuracy? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 15:16, 11 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
ANimals look good, the guy still seems a bit... Like a floating corpse? Mainly due to the head looking down and the stiff limbs. FunkMonk (talk) 15:44, 11 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
That could work yeah, I think the main problem is that you'd expect a diver to look straight in front of them. FunkMonk (talk) 15:53, 11 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I've put the new diver in the Plesiosaurus image. I'm not quite sure what you mean by looking straight in front of them, as the hypothetical diver would be moving forwards (if he was a plesiosaur), and therefore looking ahead, as opposed to down, or is my complete lack of knowledge of scuba diving leading me astray? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 16:11, 11 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Oh yeah, I meant it was the problem of the original version (which made him look like a "floater"). The new one where he looks forwards makes more sense. FunkMonk (talk) 16:16, 11 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, Elasmosaurus, Cryptoclidus, Liopleurodon, and Rhomaleosaurus all need updates. By the way, how accurate are the skeletals here (pg. 203/3 in PDF): [27]? I'm looking at Hyrotherosaurus and Kronosaurus in particular. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 21:25, 14 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Also, are there any good Elasmosaurus skeletals? This is one of my earlier size comparisons, so it was based on a life restoration. The thing looks pretty unnatural right now, and the neck's a meter too short. Also, Liopleurodon was given one heck of a weird fin. [28] Should it look more like what's seen in rhomaleosaurids? --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 21:38, 14 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Don't know of any Elasmo skeletals, but perhaps this one of Thalassomedon could be helpful:[29] Or this one of Hydrotherosaurus, seems the differences would be rather subtle.[30]FunkMonk (talk) 05:33, 15 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Aristonectes has been made for no reason at all other than that it was possible. Looks like an elasmosaurid that ran into a wall... --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 22:42, 14 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
Tricleidus decided to come along, too. Pinging Eotyrannu5, who made the skeletal I based this image on, for feedback. --Slate Weasel (talk | contribs) 23:14, 14 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
I've updated that very recently, might want to update the chart accordingly Eotyrannu5 (talk) 14:12, 15 April 2019 (UTC)[reply]
^Allin, E.F. 1975. Evolution of the mammalian middle ear. Journal of Morphology 147: 403–438
^Laass, M. (2016). The origins of the cochlea and impedance matching hearing in synapsids. Acta Palaeontologca Polonica 61 (2): 267-280
^Gaetano LC, Abdala F (2015) The Stapes of Gomphodont Cynodonts: Insights into the Middle Ear Structure of Non-Mammaliaform Cynodonts. PLoS ONE 10(7): e0131174. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131174
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