#compsognathids

Finally released from the Dinosaur Hell of my own making, I bring to you some extra size charts comparing related species that I’ve drawn so far!

Huge congrats to everyone who completed Archovember this year, as well as to those who are still working through the list at their own (healthier) pace! It was nice having a couple extra people to check in on on Tumblr this year too! It was so fun seeing everyone’s take on these species, and being able to give some of the lesser-known ones some much deserved attention.

I’d like to urge people to go to my Instagram SaritaPaleo and see the story highlights, check out what other people have drawn, and give them some likes and comments as well. A lot of people put so much effort and creativity into this year!

i straight up did not upload this? my bad

Archovember Day 19: Sinosauropteryx prima

In life, Sinosauropteryx would have been just like any other compsognathid. But it is very important to paleontology for a variety of reasons.

For one, it was the first non-avialan (bird-winged) dinosaur to be discovered with evidence of feathers. Not only that, but these feathers were so well-fossilized, that we could determine the structure and placement of their melanosomes, and thus what colors and patterns the dinosaur would have been! Thus, Sinosauropteryx was the first non-avialan dinosaur whose life appearance we can be almost certain of! We know that it was covered almost completely in soft, down-like feathers, had a long striped tail, was countershaded with reddish-brown feathers on top and white on the bottom, and had a raccoon-like band across its eyes.

You’re not wrong.

I feel like the dynamic they’ve got (Greg and Wirt and Rita and Juno both) is a not uncommon one for siblings, especially with a fairly significant age gap between them. I know I was like that with my little sister (and honestly, I kind of wish I was a lot kinder to her when we were kids, but hindsight is 20/20). 

It’s that mix of hero worship and frustration and not fully understanding each other but loving each other anyway. 

I’m not exactly a twin myself, but I think it’s noteworthy that it’s nothing like the kind of dynamic I’ve seen between twins (in real life and in media both). And I think that’s fairly important as far as Juno’s concerned, now that we know he and Ben were twins. 

hope i made the cut