raptor toy box illustration by Jonathan Kuo
Tell me again about how “dinosaurs aren’t as cool or scary now that we know they had feathers.” JFC these guys are simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.
Look at all these excellent feathered terror babies!
Awhile back someone threw the prompt of “Synapsid-based kobolds” and I couldn’t really let that go…
A+ would play Permian–Triassic based tabletop game.
Bonus (Caravan Ride):
Synapsid based kobolds YES
While many of the reconstructions leave something to be desired (so many wings that end, inexplicably, at the wrists?!!) the mission of this exhibit - and the ultimate message - is top notch.
Sope the troodon wishes u many fried chicken and good tummy rub
THIS IS THE ACCURATE REBOOT I WANTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Deinonychus (and multituberculates) by Emily Willoughby
Drawn for one of her fans <3
Alright, look. I’m all for artistic license. But sometimes it just gets out of hand.
Exhibit A: this very well drawn giant owl Cryolophosaurus.
“Theropod dinosaurs had feathers, right? So surely they must’ve been as extensive as birds today! There’s no problem strapping a big coat of feathers onto a 20-foot long creature!” is what I’m guessing might’ve been going through his head. However, there’s a few problems with this picture.
Firstly, Cryolophosaurus is related to Dilophosaurus. Dilophosaurus isn’t included in Tetanurae, the group that includes coelurosaurs, aka tyrannosaurs, compsognathids, maniraptorans, and ornithomimosaurs. The problem with Cryolophosaurus not being included in this group is that the majority of feathered dinosaurs discovered are in this group. Thus, it’s improbable that Cryolophosaurus had feathers.
Now, the other problem is the extent to which this Cryolophosaurus is feathered. It seems to be covered in a big coat of feathers, making it look like a gigantic barn owl. While the thought of a 20-foot long toothy owl is frightening, the thing is, Cryolophosaurus didn’t need these feathers, and certainly not to this extent. I’m not sure if I have it correct, but if I recall correctly larger animals have an easier time retaining heat than smaller animals, hence why they don’t need much insulation like fur or feathers. This is why elephants only have sparse hair and mostly bare skin. Most of the feathered dinosaurs discovered are also quite small, such as Anchiornis who, while being literally covered from head to toe in feathers, was only 2 or 3 feet long.
Also, in case you were wondering, yes, this is in fact drawn by the same person who drew that feathered Tyrannosaurus. He’s definitely a good artist, I won’t doubt that, but a few of his depictions could use a bit of paleontological accuracy.
:(
I really, really like this piece of art.
I can’t seem to find it on the page that this post links to.
If I had been in charge of the Jurassic movies, things would have been very different
*alfred hitchcock whooping in the distance*
How do we know T-rex had proto-feathers? Is there any fossil evidence or is it just an extrapolation based on related dinosaurs? As in, when I see an illustration of a maniraptorid with feathers, I know it is based on sound evidence. But when I see a picture of a large theropod like T-rex with feathers, I am a bit skeptical. When I hear an paleontologist say "We KNOW x had feathers, even though we haven't found any traces of feathers preserved with it", I don't trust them. Thoughts..?
Well, It’s not just maniraptorans, Yutyrannus was a “large theropod”, very closely related to rex, and its feathers are clearly preserved on fossils. There’s also Dilong, who wasn’t large but hey, it’s a confirmed feathered tyrannosaurid too. Also, there have been feathers discovered in pretty basal dinosaurs, which suggests that feathers were far more common than we had previously thought.
So yes, saying rexie had feathers is based on an extrapolation, but an extrapolation made from ancestors and close relatives, so I don’t think it’s far fetched. Personally, I’d be more surprised if rex turned out to be completely bald.
Anyway, what do I know?, you better ask here: http://paleoillustration.tumblr.com/questions
