#ornithiscian

happy #LunarNewYear #LunarNewYear2024 remember that it's not just the Chinese which celebrate new year 😉

here we have a selection of various dinosaurs and pterosaur named after loong since 2024 is the year of the loong!!!

IIIIIIIIIIT’S ARCHOVEMBER TIME

Day 1 is “your choice” and I chose Psittacosaurus!

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I’ve long been fascinated by dinosaurs that we know the colors of and have been trying to draw all of them over the years. Psittacosaurus is very special because we know almost the full life appearance! Of one species, anyway… There are at least 11 species of Psittacosaurus, and it is one of the most completely known fossil genera due to the large sample size of specimens. First described in 1923, hundreds of individual specimens have been uncovered throughout Mongolia and Northern China, from tiny hatchlings to old adults. In 2001, a stolen fossil was discovered with almost perfectly preserved integument. It’s body was covered in scales in irregular patterns. Hollow, tubular bristle-like structures were arranged in a row down the dorsal line of the tail. In 2016, a study was published on the examination of the melanosomes in the Psittacosaurus’ skin. It was discovered to be countershaded: reddish-brown on top with a creamy underbelly. Darker clusters of pigment were found around its face, shoulders, and cloaca, which were likely used for display. It also had large patagia on its hind legs. This specimen has not yet been assigned to a particular species, but it’s what I have drawn here.

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Psittacosaurus’ were small, early ceratopsians from Early Cretaceous Asia. One of the largest was P. mongoliensis, which would have reached 2 metres (6.5 ft) in length, and most other species are around that size as well, though there are some which were slightly smaller. Due to the proportions and relative size of Psittacosaurus’ brains, they likely had complex social behaviors. They also had well-developed senses of smell and vision. The size of their scleral rings indicate they may have been cathemeral: active at irregular intervals during both the day and night. They likely had a nut and seed-rich diet which they would have used their strong beaks to crack, and would have swallowed gastroliths to help them wear down their food.

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Also, because I’ve noticed that the size chart I make at the end of Archovember is always much more popular than the individual pieces, I’ve decided to make a size chart for each species I draw. 🙃 Yep. I’m drawing two images per prompt. 🙃🙃 Because I love making extra work for myself. 🙃🙃🙃