Lecture 7: Dinosaurs In History Flashcards
Describe the 1600’s
Scientific revolution in Europe. Reconsideration of fossils.
In 1667-Nicolas Steno recognizes “glossopetra” are fossilized shark teeth
In 1677- Robert plot publishes earliest illustration of a dinosaur bone, but not recognized as such at the time
Describe the 1700’s
1758- Linnaeus formalizes zoological classification with his systema Naturae.
Fossils of mosasaurus (netherlands) and Pterodactylus (Germany) were first studied in late 1700’s (not name until early 1800’s)
Little consensus on how to interpret and classify these animals.
Describe the history of paleontology
Baron Georges Cuvier (1769-1832). Natural museum of history. Father of modern paleontology. Concept of extinction.
Early 1800’s
The science of palaeontology was named. Stratigraphy (sequence of rock formations mapped, periods of geological time defined) More strange fossil reptiles are discovered in England- Icthyosaurus, pleisosaurus- as well as the first named dinosaurs. First concept of an “age of reptiles” preceding of the dominance of mammals.
Describe the history of the Megalosaurus
1810’s- Jaw and teeth discovered in England.
1824- William Buckland publishes the first scientific paper naming a dinosaur.
Still a valid genus based on this material.
Describe the history of the Iguanodon
1825- Name published by Gideon Mantell, based on a few teeth and bones from England. Later scientists redefined the name to be based on complete skeletons found in Belgium in 1878.
Who is Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892)
Knighted by Queen Victoria. An arch rival of Charles Darwin. In 1841 the term Dinosauria was proposed it is Greek, and means fearfully great lizard. First dinosaur park established in 1854 at crystal palace outside london
Describe the History of the 1800’s
1842: Richard owen invents the word “dinosaur” to include Megalosaurus, iguanodon, and Hylarosaurus.In 1854 Dinosaur sculptures go on exhibit in Crystal palace park, london
What did Darwin publish in 1859?
The “ on the origin of the species” outlining the theory of evolution by natural selection
What was discovered in 1861?
Archaeopteryx (Germany). Huxley proposes that dinosaurs and birds are closely related
What Dinosaur became the first mounted for display in 1868?
Hadrosaurus from new Jersey
what happened in 1870’s-1890’s
Intense collecting in western US fuelled by “bone wars”
Who is Edward Drinker Cope? (1840-1897)
Academy of natural sciences in Philadelphia. Named over 1200 species of vertebraes. Published over 1400 scientific papers
Who is othniel Charles Marsh?
He was a student at Yale University. Became the director of the peabody museum at Yale, supported by his uncle george peabody. Discovered Brontosaurus, stegosaurus and triceratops.
What were the bone wars?
It was cope vs. Marsh, 20 years of great productivity of 287 species of dinosaurs, 130 of which were described by these men
Describe the Late 1800’s
1887- Seeley divides dinosauria into saurischia and Ornithischia. Marsh names the groups Theropoda, Sauropoda, ornithopoda, stegasauria, ceratopsia.
Describe the Paleoart that begain in 1897
Charles Knight begins painting dinosaurs, he remains active until 1940’s
Canadian Dinosaur Discoveries
A few finds were reported in the 1870’s-1880’s. Lawrence Lambe (Ottawa) is first to name new Dinosaurs in Canada.
Describe the Early 1900’s
Dominated by museum efforts to build the most impressive exhibits. Tyrannosaurus Rex discovered in Montana in 1902, named in 1905. Major expeditions by western palaeontologists to Asia and Africa.
The Great Canadian Dinosaur Rush
1910s-1930s- Extensive collecting in Alberta by museums in New york, Ottawa and Toronto.
Who was Roy Chapman Andrews (1884-1960)
He was a zoologist at the museum of natural history, New york. Took an expedition to central Mongolia. Famous finds of dinosaur nests and eggs. Museum of Ulan Bator, capital of mongolia
What was the first feature film about dinosaurs?
The lost world in 1925, it was influenced by Knights art
Mid 1900s
Refinement of radiometric dating assigns absolute dates to the age of Dinosaurs. plate tectonics explains the movement of the continents. Modern synthesis ties together paleontological and biological understanding of evolution.
The “Dinosaur Renaissance”
1969- John ostrom publishes Deinonychus, challenges conventional view of dinosaurs as sluggish, dimwitted reptiles. 1970-80s new research into dinosaur physiology (were they warm blooded?) Social behavior (cooperative hunting, herd living, parental care, infraspecific communication and competition etc)
