PALAEOBLR

High browsing adaptations in Spinophorosaurus nigerensis. Jurassic. Niger

Fossil skeletal mounts are more than popular attractions at paleontological exhibitions. Thorough History they have proven, when properly mounted, to be great devices for evaluating paleobiological hypotheses otherwise untestable. Nevertheless, mounting skeletons based on preconceived notions or looking for spectacularity has also contributed to spark a lot of scientific debate for decades. This work reviews some historical and recent cases on how skeletal mounting of sauropodomorph dinosaurs, physical or virtual, has resulted as hypothesis testing device or as a vehicle for false hypotheses to spread. Skeletal mounts can be valid hypothesis testing devices when following strict rigorous and repeatable protocols. Some criteria for evaluating previously existing mounts or executing new ones are proposed.

Wednesday, February 12. Darwin Day 2020.  211th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth

Wellcome Collection

Ontogenetic similarities between giraffe and sauropod neck osteological mobility

Siamraptor suwati. Lower Cretaceous Khok Kruat Formation of Khorat, Thailand.  Scale bar equals 1 m .

Vallibonavenatrix (Vallibona’s huntress) from the Early Cretaceous of Spain, by  José Antonio Peñas

Fully fledged enantiornithine hatchling revealed by Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence supports precocial nesting behavior

1). 1.121 notes - 23 January 2018

2). 755 notes - 18 February 2018

Fukuiraptor  kitadaniensis. Early Cretaceous. Japan

3). 726 notes - 12 April 2018

4). 628 notes - 08 November 2018

5). 573 notes - 03 July 2018

6). 549 notes - 18 May 2018

7). 508 notes - 06 January 2018

8). 498 notes - 29 March 2018

9). 497 notes - 30 August 2018

10). 479 notes - 13 April 2018