#dmm2017

[deinonychusfloof]

I made a poorly drawn dino march madness final 8 thing

tag urself I’m Brachytrachelopan

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Well, here we have it: The winner of Dinosaur March Madness, 2017. Maiasaura!

I don’t really know exactly what to say - obviously I think it’s a good choice - but it was a super close race, as you’ll see under the cut. 

Not going to lie, Spinosaurus and Maiasaura seem to be... mostly on par, with Maiasaura only taking the prize because more people dislike Spinosaurus than they do Maiasaura. 

So here’s your new Dinosaur Government to replace last year’s! Here’s to a good year of governance :D

Reference: 

So most people think that Sauropos are still dinosaurs, but only Neornithes are birds. A sensible choice! 

Though Little Blue riding Maiasaura to victory got very close to winning, it did not get a majority of votes :/

So here is the breakdown of votes. I calculated total point value as such: 

4(Number of 1st place votes) + 3(Number of 2nd place votes) + 2(Number of 3rd place votes) + 1(Number of 4th place votes)

I know that That last variable is unnecessary, but I included it as a checking measure for my spreadsheet:

So Maiasaura took first place with 1035 points; Spinosaurus second with 999 points; Little Blue Penguin third with 953 points; and Dreadnoughtus fourth with 703 points. 

Dreadnoughtus was just... sad :C It didn’t deserve this, IMO

Most people voted for Spinosaurus because they think it’s unique, weird, unusual, or interesting; which is a fair reason! 

Most people voted for Dreadnoughtus because it comes from a general group that they find interesting 

Most people voted for Maiasaura because they think it’s scientifically interesting and/or important

And, in true form, most people voted for the LBP because they think it’s cute 

And those are the results! This year was... interesting. Definitely waaaaay chiller than last year’s. I’m glad we all had fun, and I have plans to make next year’s even better! 

[diplotomodon]

DMM2k17: The case for Dreadnoughtus

Alright, I realize this may come as a bit of a surprise, but hear me out.

Scientific significance

Yes, Dreadnoughtus may be another stinkin’ titanosaur but I would say that it is definitely one of the best stinkin’ titanosaurs.

Up until the AMNH titanosaur stole its thunder, it was definitely the most complete example known - 70% of the skeleton as a matter of fact

It gives us an excellent look into the paleoenvironment of the Cerro Fortaleza Formation, which is very understudied compared to other Cretaceous Argentinian sites

There are some biogeographic implications due to its lat/long - particularly, the notion that giant Antarctic titanosaurs are a distinct possibility (get digging, folks)

The authors actually bother to measure the skeletal elements and list them so people can actually LOOK at them and compare it to other animals, in stark contrast to a distressing number of other papers. #MYDD

It's open access

Unlike every other contender on the list, the descriptive papers for Dreadnoughtus are entirely 100% open access. You can read it right here! Here's the supplementary information! All free!

Compare that to the Spinosaurus paper, which was released the exact same month, but buried behind a paywall and chopped up to fit the page requirements of Science. A complete bummer that could have easily been avoided if it was submitted to an open access journal instead of upholding authors' academic loyalties to certain outlets for no good reason *cough*throwing shade*cough*

Embraces the Shiny Digital Future

Just because paleontology is an old dog it doesn't mean it can't learn new tricks.

The entire skeleton has been 3D scanned and is viewable & downloadable right here online, for free, as is the Dreadnoughtus way. You want some individual high-res bones? You got 'em. The whole thing, mounted as in life? You got that too. I bet you could take the files and 3D print them yourself if you've got the tech. Remember Aquilops, and how it captivated the Internet with its tiny printable skull? You can thank Dreadnoughtus for pioneering that.

And those prints are being put to good use in the lab, where they're being hooked up to wires and makeshift muscles in an attempt to imitate the joints and tendons in life. Want a muscle study based on this data? Boom! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7tsdSj-t7k

There's a personal touch

I'm making this case in the first place because Dreadnoughtus holds a special place in my heart. It takes literal years of manpower and effort to prep those bones, and a young Diplotomodon would go down to the Academy of Natural Sciences year after year to watch it happen. It was after a lecture by Ken Lacovara, the lead author, where I realized that the nearby university in Philadelphia had a paleontology program - something I'd been looking for since I knew it was a proper science. Today, I work with many of the coauthors and help to support their projects. Heck without Dreadnoughtus I would probably not be here writing this up.

(seriously I know like all of those people)

It's a wholesome, feel-good story of achievement and perseverance

Think about it. An expedition to a wild, little-studied corner of the world with barely any coverage in the literature. Against all odds, they find a giant bone, and then another, and then another, and then whoops they've got a giant sauropod. So they make deals with the Argentinian government, carve it out, pack it up, send it to two separate museums in the US for preparation, and after ten years of working away finally reveal it to the world, where it's met with great interest, response publications, and future research opportunities. The bones get sent back to Argentina as part of the country's cultural heritage, and everyone has a good time. Ain't that all warm and fuzzy?

And finally:

Straight-up bribery

If it wins, I'll spill some spicy Dreadnoughtus secrets that have never actually made it online. Like what its original name was.

You know what to do.

[drawingwithdinosaurs]

DMM2k17 and Parrots

Now I’m no expert on Neornithes, and I’m not going to bother listing what I voted for in every category (not that I can remember), however I would like to take just a moment of your time to recommend a very special parrot to you all:

SHADOW THE PARROT

(Src)

Or ‘Pesquet’s parrot’ as it’s known to its middle-class, suburban parents.*

Just look at it

OW THE EDGE

(Src)

Not only does it have jet black and blood red feathers, but it’s got a naked face (also black, of course) and a bill that’s so long and hooked it looks like a miniature vulture.*

You have to try to be this goddamn edgy of an animal. Especially when you’re a parrot.

*teleports (without flying) behind you* Nothing personnel, kid

(Src)

And it doesn’t stop there, this thing is so freaking extra that it’s been designated an entire subfamily for its one singular genus with only one species. 

If parrots wore trenchcoats, this is what it would be like.

(Src)

Does the Pesquet’s parrot know no limit to the edge?

Yes, yes it does.

Despite appearances, this parrot is a specialised fruit-eater, particularly fond of figs, along with flowers and nectar. See? It was sweet on the inside all along!

You know that trope where the dark, brooding gothic character is paired up with the bright, upeat, peppy (usually blonde) character? This is it except it’s parrots.

(Src)

To round off with some general information, it’s relatively large for a parrot with a length of ~46 cm (whatever that means)—despite several attempts, I could not come up with any results for its wingspan, go figure. The species is only known from the hill and montane rainforests of New Guinea, and in part to its rarity, an in part to its sick feathers, it is overhunted and currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.

I’m running out of edgy-jokes and fun facts about it, so I’ll finish here and say to totally go and vote for Shadow the Parrot as this year’s parrot for DMM2017. 

((*Pesquet’s parrots also sometimes go by the name “Vulturine parrot”, however there’s already another species of parrot called this.

This species gets its name because while they start off like your typical small, green parrot as juveniles, they shed all the feathers on their head as adults, leaving them with a naked, black head.

The closely related bald parrot is similarly bald, however this species has bare orange skin on its head which I swear down looks just like all those old garishly colourful Archaeopteryx with inexplicably bald heads.

Shadow the Parrot is as such listed as Pesquet’s parrot on the voting sheet, so vote smart folks!))

[plokool]

DMM 2017 Round 3:

VOTE

THE

MYSTERY

Also if you could help make sure this little friend wins its fight too that would be great:

[cry-olophosaurus]

Hi I would like to draw your attention to Cryolophosaurus

Cryolophosaurus is my favorite dinosaur (if that wasn’t obvious enough), and while I don’t necessarily expect it to win, I think it could be neat to have it get somewhere in the voting process.

-Name means “Cold crested lizard”

-Nicknamed “Elvissaurus” for it’s cool crest

-Yeah look at that neat crest honestly, it was probably used for display

-From Antarctica, the first non-avian theropod discovered from Antarctica and the second dinosaur fossil discovered there overall

-The first non-avian dinosaur actually named from Antarctica (it was named before the first dinosaur fossil discovered there, Antarctopelta, was)

-It’s jaw shape indicates it may have fed on fish

-From the early Jurassic

-One of the largest theropods of its time 

-Fancy

-A friend

[excessively-english-jd]

Why Yutyrannus Should Win And Spinosaurus Should Not

Yutyrannus is the largest dinosaur found with evidence of feathers. This has big implications for the occurrence of feathers in dinosauria, proves that large theropods could be feathered, and shows feathering within tyrannosauroidea.

Yutyrannus has three near-complete specimens, from various life stages. This allows for not only pretty thorough study and description, but also establishes the species’ ontogeny. Near-complete specimens are a big deal, and it’s always awesome to be able to establish some ideas on how the animal changed as it aged.

Apart from the feathers, has some other pretty cool features such as a nasal crest.

Isn’t disproportionally popular, didn’t star in a sub-par Jurassic Park movie, is not riding on “awesome” factor. Okay so these ones are a little petty but fuck you I’m allowed to be petty.

In short - vote Yutyrannus or I will be Disappoint

Have a non-binary floofin. Good day.

[zekor]

@a-dinosaur-a-day My predictions for Dinosaur March Madness 2017.  It would be really nice if Cryolophosaurus or an ankyolosaur won, but I think it’s going to go to the floof ball that is the Burrowing Owl.  The raven will have another modern bird to hang out with at the winners table.

I actually think Spinosaurus will beat Cryolophosaurus, but I refuse to acknowledge that fact and put it in the bracket.  Apatosaurus will still beat Spinosaurus, so it doesn’t matter.

[mryarra]

dinosaur march madness ornithischia

 Basal Ornithischia:  Scutellosaurus, what a neat lil guy.  why isn’t it in more documentaries?

Stegosaurs:  Miragaia because it’s pretty and has a pretty name

Nodosaurids & Misc. Ankylosaur:  Nodosaurus prolly could not Go Fast but i’m voting for it anyway

Ankylosaurus are the enemy but Gobisaurus is acceptable

Basal Neornithischians:  Jeholosaurus because it’s cute and it got taken out by possibly notreal venom and that sucks.

Ornithopods:  Zalmoxes is another dude i want more of in documentaries

Ankylopollexians:  Iguanacolossus.  he big.

Hadrosauriformes:  Eotrachodon from the eastern US hi neighbor

Saurolophines:  Saurolophus is my baby i love it

Lambeosaurines:  Corythosaurus.  It’s cute.

Pachycephalosaurs:  Stegoceras looks so friendly with its silly little arms in that illustration and it is adorable

Basal Ceratopsians:  are endearing dudes in general but I’m going with Leptoceratops

Chasmosaurines:  Eotriceratops.  she big.

Centrosaurines:  Nasutoceratops because it’s cool

[archosaurophilia]

DMM2017: Non-Neornithean Theropods, ROUND TWO

So, the people spoke and the Non-Neornithean Theropods have been settled upon. This is a pretty good lineup, though only one out of each of these brackets can advance. Here’s my thoughts on which ones deserve it!

The first bracket pits the Carnian theropod Herrerasaurus against the Maastrichtian abelisaurid Majungasaurus. These are both fine animals, but Herrerasaurus is honestly only really known for its old age and is a pretty generic early saurischian otherwise. By contrast, Majungasaurus is a fairly weird theropod, with stupidly short legs and a funny-looking skull. I think Majungasaurus is the winner here.

The second bracket has the classic Cenomanian pairing of Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus for us. I love carcharodontosaurs and all, but Spinosaurus is unquestionably the more unique and interesting theropod of the two.

In the third bracket, the Tithonian Compsognathus and the Aptian Yutyrannus both mark significant steps in our understanding the “birdification” of dinosaurs, Compsognathus being one of the first birdlike coelurosaurs known to science, and Yutyrannus being our largest feathered theropod to date. I think Yutyrannus is the cooler of the two, and after last year’s upset, the tyrannosaurs probably deserve to have a representative go further.

The fourth bracket presents a tough choice between the contemporaneous Maastrichtian dinosaurs Gallimimus and Mononykus, both of the Nemegt Formation. I’ll go with Mononykus here, because alvarezsaurs are funny.

In the fifth bracket, the Turonian Nothronychus and the Maastrichtian Anzu square off. I’m partial to the oviraptorosaur here, so Anzu it is.

The sixth bracket gives us two more Maastrichtian dinosaurs, Dakotaraptor and Balaur. Dakotaraptor is honestly a pretty lame taxon with a not-so-great description, a lot of controversy, and no claim to fame aside from being... big? By contrast, we have the delightful Balaur, the four-toed B-B-B-B-Balaur, the stump-footed B-B-B-B-Balaur. No contest, really.

The seventh bracket is our first bird-only bracket of the season (given a constrained definition of bird). Here we have the Campanian-Maastrichtian Avisaurus and the Campanian Hesperornis. I love enantiornithines, but I have to go with Hesperornis here. It’s just plain weirder.

Lastly, the eighth bracket, where we have the Sinemurian Cryolophosaurus and the Aptian Confuciusornis. Again, I love Antarctic dinosaurs, so it’s Cryolophosaurus for me.

These are just my opinions, of course. Aside from the Balaur/Dakotaraptor one. That’s objective fact. Death to Dakotaraptor.

[allosauroid]

Hey palaeoblr! Dino March Madness is back and you know what that means: I get crazy passionate about a theropod!

As most of you probably remember, I campaigned hard for Allosaurus last time, and with your help it managed to get an absolute ridiculously large amount of votes! Now this year a relative of our beloved Allosaurus is running, Erectopus superbus, and they need your help.

You may recognize Erectopus because it’s been my icon on tumblr for ages (it’s even part of the inspiration for my URL), however in general it’s not a very well known dinosaur, even with such a... phallic name. Hailing from Early Cretaceous France, Erectopus is on the smaller side (estimated at around 400lbs) and is known from fragmentary remains.

Now here’s where you all come in, we’re only in the preliminary stage but your votes still matter so so much.

So go forth and vote! Vote for Erectopus superbus! Give it the chance at recognition it deserves!

Sources: Illustration of Erectopus Where I made the pixel chat bubble

[grubsnuggle]

My picks for Dinosaur March Madness

Basal Theropods - Herrerasaurus (I think its just iconic in general, man)

Ceratosaurs - Masiakasaurus (THAT JAAAAAAAAW)

Basal Tetanurans & Megalosaurs - Megalosaurus (my teacher used to call me this so call it a biased vote or whatever)

Carnosaurs - Carcharodontosaurus (inherently cool)

Miscellaneous Coelurosaurs - Fukuivenator (japanese theoropods are neat)

Tyrannosauroids - Guanlong (because the slender early tyrannos need love too)

Ornithomimosaurs - Gallimimus (oblig. jurassic park vote)

Alvaresaurs - Parvicursor (a rms????)

Therizinosaurs - Beipiaosaurus (its cute and its shaped like a friend)

Oviraptorosaurs - Gigantoraptor (big)

Dromaeosaurs - Tsaagan (totally not voting because i have a miraculous kwamin oc named after this thing nope nope nope nope)

Troodontids & Basal Avialans - Mei (known from a specimen fosssilized in sleeping position how neat is that)

Enantiornithes - Avisaurus (ngl picked this one based on which potential nominee had the nicest artwork)

Non-Neornithean Euornithes - Hesperornis (penguin v0.1)

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Here it is

The finale 

Including: 

- The special questions people asked for 

- A rank-based voting system for the four finalists

- Reasoning! 

- And tears

Please vote and spread it around! TIME TO SEE, WHO IS, THE BEST, DINOSAUR

[diplotomodon]

I missed 2/3 of #DMM2k17 but whatever

My choices:

Spinosaurus - in a battle of Ultimate Weird^tm, I think Sail Otter narrowly prevails over Fruit Pigeon.

Dreadnoughtus - personal attachment, my university did the studies and I’ve watched the bones be prepped. Also it fears nothing, especially stinkin’ dicraeosaurids

Tianyulong - basal ornithischian ornithoscelidan floof is best floof

Harpy Eagle - because a) it is a BAMF and b) I have to make up for the loss of Fruit Pigeon somehow

[drawingwithdinosaurs]

Now that Herrerasaurus is a large, ‘derived-theropod’-convergent, hypercarnivorous Triassic almost-prosauropod—

—thanks to the Grand Befuckening—

—I think we can all agree that, surely, it deserved a place in DMM 2017 more than Spinosaurus did.

[plokool]

With the beginning of Dinosaur March Madness voting approaching, allow me to make some recommendations:

Maiasaura: Scientifically important for what it revealed about dinosaur parenting and also adorable and lovable (and Meig’s favorite) (art by @ryuukibart)

The little penguin: Look at it, just look at it. The cutest bird. Don’t let this little guy down

Spinosaurus: The best dinosaur. Massive semi-aquatic predator of awesomeness. Vote the mystery!