Titanosaurs were the biggest land animals Earth’s ever seen − these plant-powered dinos combined reptile and mammal traits
It is likely to be familiar with the classic dinosaurs-four-legs herbs famous for their long necks and tails. Animals like Brachiosaurusand Apatosor and DipLodocus The standard matches in science museums have been 1800s.
With their small brains and their huge bodies, these creatures have long been affected children An extinct animals. However, the recent discoveries rewritten the Sorbod of the convicted Sorbod.
I study Less well -known collection of Sauropod – Titanosauria dinosaurs, or “deleted reptiles”. Instead of extinction, Titanozor flourished After a long period of the disappearance of their most famous cousins. It was not only great and responsibility All seven continentsThey held in the middle of them Recently developed dinosaursuntil The asteroid of the Earth The era of dinosaurs ended.
The secret of the wonderful biological success of Tyanosor may be how to combine the best of reptiles and mammals to form a unique way of life.
Moving with continents
Titanosaurs I grew up for the early chalk periodFor nearly 126 million years, at a time when many were The ground shoulders were much closer together What they are today.
During the 75 million to 80 million years, The continents slowly separatedTitanosaurs, along with variable configurations, and distributed them all over the world.
There was almost there 100 types of TitanosaursMore than 30 % of well -known dinosaurs make up. It varied greatly in size. One of the largest saoropods is absolutely known, including Argentinoorand Patagotitan and FutalognkosaurusAnd, which exceeded 60 tons (54.4 metric tons) and was larger than half a square, to the smallest known Sorobodes, including Renconorusand Saltasaurus and MagyarosaurusIt was only about 6 tons (5.4 metric tons) and about the size of an African elephant.
Children to mighty
Like many reptiles, Titanozoa life began relatively small, hatch from Eggs are not larger than grapefruit.
the Best data on Titanosaur nests The eggs come from a site in Argentina called AUCA Mahuevo, and it includes 75 million open rocks. The site contains hundreds of holes that contain Skin impressions from ancient embryos.
The huge number of nests that exist together, in multiple geological layers, indicate Titanosaurs He returned to this site over and over again To lay their eggs. I closely apart, unlikely, the adult Titanosor is able to move freely across the nesting ground. Titanosaurs is likely to have a pattern of paternity and motherhood, similar to many reptiles that lay many eggs and do not spend much time directing the nest or attention to spawning.
Titanosor Hatling It could have been about 1 feet (30 cm), 3 feet length (1 meter) and 5-10 pounds (2.5-5 kg). Modern evidence from a site in Madagascar indicates that these are a small fools born ready for tears.
Bones fossilized species Rapetosaurus It indicates that by the time when they may be in the knee to a modern person, they were They may enhance themselves. The microscopic details are deeply recorded inside the bones indicating the child Rapetosaurus There is possible that there is independently of plants and more than their adult relatives moved.
For the first century of dinosaurs science, fossil scientists imagine that Titanozur Reptile growth rates are used to predict their landmarks. In this slow -growing model, even the smallest Titanozors took nearly a century to reach their full size, which means that it was relatively small for a good part of their lives. The new evidence indicates that this growth pattern is unlikely.
Sayed scholars Titanosaurs bones study in high zooming To better understand their growth. We look at the microscopic patterns of bone minerals as well as the density and structure of the spaces that carry blood vessels and cells.
The higher the blood supply density to the bone, the fastest this animal. These signatures are also present in living animals and can reflect precisely Growth rates, anomalies and even age.
Bone data shows Titanosor growth rates On an equal footing with mammals such as whales – Many faster than any live reptiles – this means that they would have arrived In only a few decades. Scientists cannot know the time when Titanosaurs has lived, but based on large ground animals that live today, Titanosaurs has lived, perhaps 60 years or more.
Fit by plants
The rapid growth rates of Sauropods were partially due to body temperatures. By studying fossilized teeth chemistry And white hairsScientists have decided that Titanozrat had body temperatures It ranges from about 95 to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 38 ° C). This is higher than crocodiles and crocodiles, such as modern mammals and a little less than most birds, whose bodies can be obtained regularly Warm like 104 f (40 ° C).
The rapid growth rates of Tynosroz declared by its amazing appetite for plants were also. Microscopic patterns of scratches, wear and drill indicate their teeth He found eating on plants less on the groundWhere the sediments can be found more common.
In India, cutting stools, Otherwise known as CoprolitesTitanozor show there is everything from Plants at the ground level along the road to the leaves and branches From trees.
Like all dinosaurs, Titanosaurs has replaced their teeth throughout life. But the data shows that it has been replaced every age About 20 days To maximize efficiency, one of the highest replacement rates known as dinosaurs.
If not The effect of the asteroid 66 million years agoThese long -term animals, incredibly and successfully varied Madagascar, Romania, North America and even Antarctica. Instead, Titanosaurs was among the witnesses – and victims – the last mass extinction on the ground.
This article has been republished from ConversationAn independent, non -profit news organization brings you facts and trusted analysis to help you understand our complex world. Written by: Christie Carrie Rogersand McCalastter College
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Christie Carrie Rogers receive funding from the National Science Corporation and David B Jones.
