#dmm2k18

*The Final Countdown blasts in the distance*

...Figured I’d draw a quick piece of art to commemorate the final battle. Been a heck of a year, huh? Of course, I already know who I’m voting for (*wink wonk*), but all the choices are really good and deserving.

The artwork isn’t my best- I’d normally do a lot more shading- but I had to get it done quickly, and it looks nice enough. For Orycto’s feathering, I decided to do an in-between for “fluffy” and “scaly,” since I’m not really sure which it would be- it’s a bit of a conservative estimate compared to some others, but I figured around half-and-half would look nice and get the point across. (To be fair, lots of reconstructions are entirely fluffless!) My biggest regret would be the lack of markings on the non-avians- Especially Halszky, poor guy! I wanted to make simpler designs so it would be easier to finish, but they do look a little dull in comparison to the Lyrebird.

Zuniceratops is cool and all- especially with those early horns!- but Oryctodromeus deserves love as well.

Reasons to vote for Orycto:

A boy of exceptional talent, the rare digger

Small and cute

The only one left from anywhere near Ornithopods. Did you want to support one of them? Gain vengeance with Oryctodromeus. Rise further.

Possibly fluffy

A good parent

Can dig a giant apocalypse bunker for all the dinosaurs/relatives

Can help farm burrowing mammals, grubs/beetles, and worms for the protein - oriented dinosaurs, bringing peace between predator and prey (anyways who else would watch Zootopia but it's all dinosaurs & friends living underground)

Can dig up tasty roots and seeds for plant-eaters

Honestly just deserves attention. It's always the big and/or scary dudes that get looked at, and maybe we could change that- after all, having a unique niche is important scientifically, so that certainly qualifies them for some time in the spotlight, right?

So apparently in the Ornithischia round, Drinker nisti has taken the lead in the Basal Neornithischians category. And I get it, har har, funny name, and all that, but...there’s really nothing else to it.

(From ADAD)

It’s a small Jurassic neornithischian. Little else to be said. There’s several more interesting options here folks!

Oryctodromeus is holding a close second, and they’re a pretty good option. Evidence of adaptations to burrowing, actually being found in presumably its own burrow, and possible evidence of parental care? Pretty good!

(Julio Lacerda, from Earth Archives)

Or why not Thescelosaurus? It’s known from several good specimens that are well described (like our boy Willo!), with a (IMO) lovely looking skull shape and just a top-notch shape in general. Oh, and it’s also set to be featured in Saurian!

(From ADAD)