Paleontologist Answers Dinosaur Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

Summary

In this lively Q&A, paleontologist Hans Sues answers Twitter users' burning questions about dinosaurs. He delves into topics such as the terrifying T-Rex, the mystery of dinosaur sounds, the asteroid extinction event, and how scientists have uncovered the true colors of dinosaurs. He debunks misconceptions from movies like *Jurassic Park*, and explains why some dinosaurs were so massive. Sues also touches on lesser-known facts, like the surprising connection between dinosaurs and modern birds. With expert insight, he explores the evolution, behavior, and extraordinary diversity of these ancient creatures.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Spinosaurus is considered one of the scariest-looking dinosaurs due to its large sail, but T-Rex remains a popular favorite for its size and powerful jaws.
• 🎶 Dinosaur sounds in movies, like roars, are inaccurate; dinosaurs likely made quieter sounds like hisses or grunts, similar to modern reptiles.
• 🎬 Jurassic Park's dinosaur depictions, such as oversized raptors and inaccurate sensory abilities of T-Rex, were for entertainment and not scientifically accurate.
• 🌍 The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs caused global destruction by sending up a cloud of molten material, killing most large animals within hours to days.
• 🌈 Recent fossil discoveries, especially in China, show that some dinosaurs, like Caihong, had vibrant, iridescent feathers, revealing that dinosaurs were more colorful than previously thought.
• 🐉 Not all dinosaurs were massive; there were many small species, and environmental conditions sometimes favored large sizes, especially in certain periods.
• 📚 Over 1,100 dinosaur species have been described, with estimates suggesting that there could have been as many as 2,000 to 5,000 species.
• 💪 T-Rex's tiny arms were incredibly strong, able to lift up to 600 pounds, but their purpose is still uncertain.
• 🦅 Pterodactyls are not dinosaurs; they are flying reptiles that evolved from a common ancestor shared with dinosaurs but diverged significantly in their evolution.
• 🦠 The survival of small animals like mammals and fish during the dinosaur extinction event is attributed to their ability to hide and endure long periods without food, unlike larger animals.
• ⚖️ Dinosaur fossilization occurs when minerals replace the bone over time, preserving the structure and turning it into a rock-like object, making it possible for scientists to study ancient life.

Q & A

What was the scariest dinosaur, according to Hans Sues?

Hans Sues considers the Spinosaurus the scariest looking dinosaur because of its huge sail on its back. However, he mentions that in the U.S., the T-Rex is more popular among people.

How did T-Rex hunt, based on fossil evidence?

Fossil evidence, including T-Rex droppings, shows that T-Rex ate both the meat and bones of its prey. Its teeth, similar to steak knives, were serrated, enabling it to crunch bones much like modern-day crocodiles.

How do scientists know what dinosaurs sounded like?

Since there is no way to directly determine dinosaur sounds, scientists believe they were likely much quieter than portrayed in movies. Most reptiles today make minimal sounds, such as hisses or grunts, and it's likely that dinosaurs did the same.

What did Jurassic Park get wrong about dinosaurs?

Jurassic Park exaggerated several aspects of dinosaur behavior. For example, T-Rex could not only detect motion but also had an excellent sense of smell and sight. Additionally, the raptors in the film were made larger than real Velociraptors, which were smaller.

How did the asteroid impact affect dinosaurs worldwide?

The asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago released an immense amount of energy, melting the asteroid and sending up glowing material into the atmosphere. This created a global disaster, with molten glass raining down, leading to the extinction of most large animals, including the dinosaurs.

How do scientists determine the color of dinosaurs?

In recent years, remarkable discoveries in China, including the study of fossils with preserved feather patterns, have revealed that some dinosaurs had vibrant colors. For example, the dinosaur Caihong had iridescent feathers, which suggests that some dinosaurs were much more colorful than previously thought.

Why were dinosaurs so big, and do we have smaller animals today?

While many dinosaurs were large, there were also small ones. Some environments favored larger sizes, but on islands, animals can become smaller. An example is tiny elephants and giant hedgehogs that lived on Mediterranean islands millions of years ago.

How many species of dinosaurs are known to science?

Currently, about 1,100 dinosaur species are described, with estimates ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 species. Dinosaurs are classified into two main groups: Saurischia (lizard-hipped) and Ornithischia (bird-hipped).

Why did T-Rex have small arms?

T-Rex had small but powerful arms, capable of lifting up to 600 pounds. It's unclear why its arms were so small, but some researchers suggest it may have been an evolutionary trait for hunting or other purposes.

What is the difference between dinosaurs and pterodactyls?

Pterodactyls were not dinosaurs, despite being closely related. While dinosaurs were land-dwelling animals, pterodactyls evolved into flying creatures with wings different from those of birds.