Amazing dinosaur facts, photos and information for young dinosaur lovers! Read about 5 fascinating prehistoric creatures from the dinosaur experts at the ROM in Toronto.
When I was young, chances were if you were at the Royal Ontario Museum on a Saturday morning I was also there, gazing in absolute awe at the dinosaurs. I loved dinosaurs (and still do!). So much so that I wanted to be a palaeontologist when I grew up. When I was 14 I got my first job at the Museum with ROM Camp, and quickly saw that my calling lay in children's education, teaching kids about the very dinosaurs that I fell in love with at their age. While I ended up switching my career goals, one thing did remain the same- I'm still here every Saturday morning!
Since my childhood, our collection of amazing dinosaurs has only grown. We have an incredibly diverse selection of dinosaurs at the ROM– from the giant Futalognkosaurus to the tiny Bambiraptor, from the ferocious Deinonychus to the lumbering Ankylosaurus- and while I love them all, some really stand out for me. I've combed through my journals and past writings for ideas on what to share with you, as well as explored some more cool info –
Here are some fun facts about 5 dinosaurs that I’ve been thinking about recently!
1. Acheroraptor- A Curious Cretaceous Migration
67 million years ago a raptor named Acheroraptor temertyorum roamed what is now Montana. Prior to the discovery of Acheroraptor there was little evidence that dromaeosaurids (raptors) lived in the area. While Acheroraptor sharpens the picture for late Cretaceous biodiversity in the region, it also raises another fascinating question. You see, Acheroraptor is more closely related to a raptor half way around the world than it is to anything in North America! When palaeontologists studied the snout of Acheroraptor, they discovered that it was seemingly related to one of the world’s most famous raptors, Velociraptor. Interestingly, Velociraptor is found in Asia, in places like China and Mongolia. This development suggests that up until the eve of the Mesozoic Era, dinosaurs were still traversing the globe, joining and altering ecosystems along the way!
More Information: New dinosaur suggests migration from Asia to North America during the eve of the Mesozoic Era.
2. Tyrannosaurus- Hungry, Hungry Teenagers
I can only imagine how awesome/scary a young Tyrannosaurus rex would have looked- teeth, that are ready to chomp right through you, maybe a mane of feathers… fierce all around. But what is most impressive about these teen terrors is how fast they grew through their teenage years. Teenage Tyrannosaurs would eat upwards of two kilograms of meat a day. That's like eating 20 burgers- not good for us, but perfectly reasonable for one of the world’s largest ever predators. I remember eating my house out of all the food as a teenager… but a Tyrannosaurus would have eaten the whole neighbourhood. Literally.
3. Futalognkosaurus- A More Accurate Picture Of A Titan
Futalognkosaurus is a type of long-necked herbivorous titanosaur that lived in Argentina over 80 million year ago. It is incredibly important to palaeontology due to its relatively complete fossil record. Unlike many other giant dinosaurs that are based off only a few bones, about 70% of Futalognkosaurus is known! As so much is known about this dinosaur, palaeontologists are able to more accurately recreate the missing parts of the body, thus creating a much more realistic portrayal of the animal. While dinosaurs like Argentinosaurus and the recently announced 80,000 kilogram titanosaur (currently still unnamed) may hold the record for biggest land animal ever due to a few giant fossils, Futalognkosaurus is the most complete of any of these dinosaurs, giving us a much more accurate look into the past.
More Information: A True Titan Of Time
4. Maiasaura- The Good Mother Lizard
When I was young, dinosaurs were primarily being portrayed as scary, lumbering and uncaring creatures. Dinosaurs were presented as parentless animals, strictly reproducing, laying eggs and then moving on with their lives. While this may be true for some dinosaurs (as it still is for some reptiles today), the discovery of the Maiasaura drastically changed this view when nests full of eggs and babies were found. Mother Maiasaura would line their nests with decaying vegetation to keep their eggs warm, and once born, they would bring food for their hatchlings to eat. The discovery of Maiasaura played such an important and ground-breaking role in palaeontology that the meaning of its name is actually "good mother lizard"!
5. Barosaurus- The Dinosaur With The Missing Skull
Few dinosaurs are ever found complete. To fill in the missing pieces palaeontologists need to look at similar dinosaurs and extrapolate size and appearance. For example, the Barosaurus we have on display at the ROM is about half real and half reproduction. The skull is actually from another dinosaur – it’s a near replica of a Diplodocus, a close relative. In this case, the skull of Barosaurus has never been found so a stand-in is needed.
More information watch this video: Constructing The Barosaurus
Guest Post By ROMKids Coordinator Kiron Mukherjee
Interested in learning more about dinosaurs and palaeontology? You can follow our palaeontologists on Twitter (@rompalaeo) and see what they’re up to in the field and in the labs!
Check us out at romkids.tumblr.com as well to learn EVEN MORE about science and history! Here are a few select links:
–Peek Into The Past: Massospondylus Embryos
–The Number One Naming Taboo
–How Palaeontologists Go To The Bathroom
–Sponsoring Dialogue Between Scientists And The Public
We also run lots of science, history and art camps at the Museum for children aged 0 to 16. You can bet we talk about these dinosaurs often! Remember, you can spend any day at the Museum (maybe join us at Saturday Morning Club?!) and see these brilliant dinosaurs up close too!
Want to explore more Dinosaur Exhibits across Canada? Here are 10 ideas for family dino fun!
Additional Source Credit: Wikipedia
