Origin of the Dinosaurs Flashcards
Origin of Dinosaurs
What did the 1980 standard model of ecological process for the origin of dinosaurs look like?
Early Triassic: Synapsids
Early to late Triassic: Early Archosaurs
Middle Triassic: Rhynchosaurs
Middle to late Triassic: Dinosaurs
Origin of Dinosaurs
What are synapsids and what did they eat?
Early ancestors of mammals, carnivores and herbivores
Origin of Dinosaurs
What group replaced synapsids as herbivores?
Rhyncosaurs
Origin of Dinosaurs
Rhyncosaurs replaced which group as herbivores?
Synapsids
Origin of Dinosaurs
Which group replaced synapsids as carnovires?
Early archosaurs
Origin of Dinosaurs
Early archosaurs replaced which group as carnivores?
Synapsids
Origin of Dinosaurs
Which group gave rise to dinosaurs?
Early archosaurs
Origin of Dinosaurs
Which group includes birds and crocodiles today, and had dinosaurs as ancestors?
Early archosaurs
Origin of Dinosaurs
What is the term for the 3 step process where one group gave way to another?
“Ecological relay”
Origin of Dinosaurs
What does the “Ecological relay” depict?
Where one group gave way to another
Origin of Dinosaurs
What alternative theory did Michael J. Benton argue in 1983 against the Romer-Colbert model?
That climate change killed of Rhynchosaurs and early archosaurs, which lead to dry conditions, giving rise to dinosaurs
Origin of Dinosaurs
Who presented the ecological relay model for the origin of dinosaurs and what was its name?
Al Romer and Ned Colbert - the “Romer - Colbert relay model”
Ecology & Origin of Dinosaurs
What did Dr Alan Charig argue was evidence for the Romer-Colbert model? (re physicality of the groups)
Synapsids and rhynchosaurs were sprawlers, dinosaurs were upright and therefore must have out-competed them
Ecology & Origin of Dinosaurs
What were the issues with Dr Alan Charig’s evidence to back up the Romer-Colbert model?
The fossils and rocks from that time don’t support that theory, dinosaurs take over was rapid according to the fossils
Origin of Dinosaurs
What was Dr Alan Charig’s position in 1983?
Head of the dinosaur section at the Natural History museum London
Rhynchosaurs
Rhynchosaurs - carnivorous and herbivorous?
Herbivorous
Rhynchosaurs
Rhynchosaurs - what was the most abundant type?
Hyperodapedon
Rhynchosaurs
What group of early reptiles did Hyperodapedon belong to?
Rhynchosaurs
Rhynchosaurs
Who used PVC moulds for dinosaur bone analysis?
Alick D. Walker
Rhynchosaurs
What university did Alick D. Walker work for?
University of Newcastle
Rhynchosaurs
Rhynchosaur notable physicality’s
Wide skull, jaws that acted as sheers - like pen knife action to sheer food rather than chew
Rhynchosaurs
Rhynchosaur - where found?
Worldwide; Scotland, Brazil, Argentina, India, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Canada, US.
What was the First Dinosaur?
Rhynchosaur - fossils found to exist at the same time as what?
Early dinosaurs
What was the First Dinosaur?
Previously thought - 2000 who found what they initially thought were the earliest dinosaurs? Where were they found?
Al Romer - Ischigualasto formation of Argentina
What was the First Dinosaur?
Where does Ischigualasto country lie in sight of?
The Andes mountains
What was the First Dinosaur?
Where in Ischigualasto are the fossil beds located?
Ischigualasto Provisional park located in Valle de la Luna
What was the First Dinosaur?
What does Valle de la Luna mean?
Valley of the Moon
What was the First Dinosaur?
2000 - What fossils did Romer find that were likely to feed on Rhynchosaurs?
Herrerasaurus
What was the First Dinosaur?
Was Herrerasaurus a dinosaur or an early reptile?
Dinosaur
**What was the First Dinosaur?
2000 - Which dinosaur did Romer discover existed at the same time as Rhynchosaurs?
Herrerasaurus
What was the First Dinosaur?
Describe physicality’s of Herrerasaurus
Large bipeds
What was the First Dinosaur?
What are the feeding habits of Herrerasaurus?
Carnivores - fed on Rhynchosaurs
What was the First Dinosaur?
Previously thought - 2003 which dinosaur was discovered in Poland?
Silesaurus
What was the First Dinosaur?
2003 Who discovered the Silesaurus in Poland?
Jerzy Dzik
What was the First Dinosaur?
2003 Which dinosaur did Jerzy Dzik discover in Poland?
Silesaurus
What was the First Dinosaur?
Silesaurus physicality’s
Long and thin, erect posture, long neck
What was the First Dinosaur?
Silesaurus feeding habits
Herbivore
What was the First Dinosaur?
What did the discovery of Silesaurus lead to?
A new group Silesauridae - nearest relative of dinosaur
What was the First Dinosaur?
2010 What was discovered from the Manda formation of Tanzania?
Silesaurid (Asilisaurus being the oldest silesaurid)
What was the First Dinosaur?
What is the oldest silesaurid?
Asilisaurus
What was the First Dinosaur?
What lake is the formation of Tanzania near?
Lake Malawi
Macroecology of Dinosaur Origins
What is the term for the largest mass extinction of all time?
The Permian-Triassic mass extinction
What was the First Dinosaur?
What is the Permian-Triassic mass extinction dubbed as?
The largest mass extinction of all time?
What was the First Dinosaur?
What caused the Permian-Triassic mass extinction
Volcanic eruptions in Serbia / acid rain conditions
What was the First Dinosaur?
Why are the previous origin of dinosaur competition-based theories now rebuked?
Rhynchosaurs fossils suddenly disappeared at a certain age of rock, indicating sudden death and not dwindling numbers resulting from competition
