Smelly Dinosaurs: A new paper explores the evolution of the olfactory sense among modern birds, extinct birds and theropods, finding that a greater sense of smell among early ancestors of modern birds may have made a difference in allowing them to survive the K-Pg extinction.
Witmer Lab created this video to accompany the research.
More at The Dragon's Tales and Dinosaur Tracking.
The Daily Routines of Dinosaurs: New research looks at the scleral rings, which encased the eye, of a variety of dinosaurs to determine at what time during the day they were most active. Most, it turns out, were not diurnal, instead going about their business in the dawn and dusk hours. Wonderfully covered by Ed Yong at Not Exactly Rocket Science.
Daemonosaurus: Another Triassic dinosaur is soon to be published, hinting at a rich diversity of new early theropods yet to be discovered. Read more at Dinosaur Tracking, Chinleana, Discovery News, and History of Geology.
Liaconodon: A new Mesozoic mammal has shed valuable light on the evolution of the mammalian ear. You know, one of those transitional fossils that supposedly don't exist. More at The Dragon's Tales, Chinleana, Palaeoblog.
Around the Dinoblogosphere
The Flying Trilobite's Glendon Mellow announced that his Etsy shop has been stocked with cool stuff. Need some nifty paleocentric artwork for your home or office? Head over there and peruse his fine wares.
Nobu's blogging! Welcome Mr. Tamura's new blog, Paleoexhibit, with an opening post about the new heterodontosaur Manidens.
Andrea Cau wrote about the diversity of sizes among theropods at his blog Theropoda.
Dave Hone's Zuchengtyrannus is the gift that keeps on giving. Today at Archosaur Musings, artist Bob Nicholls discusses his process for creating the striking restoration, a "show-off male with an eye stripe and blood red patches for impressing the tyrannosaur ladies" which accompanied the paper in the press. Hone also had James Whitlock come in to discuss his recent paper on sauropod feeding strategies.
Jamie Headden writes about one of his favorite subjects, dinosaur teeth, in a response to the announcement of "buck-toothed" Daemonosaurus.
Robert Krulwich wrote about TriceraFail, and other instances of science "changing its mind" at his NPR blog.
Saurian discussed the great importance of good record-keeping as to the history of fossils.
Brian Switek wrote about the recent paper concerning dinosaurs and lice at Dinosaur Tracking.
At Omegafauna, Sharon has been sharing some wonderful dinosaur-themed fabric patterns she's been creating, and this week showed off the test swatches she's received. They'd make the most excellent curtains ever, I'm sure you'll agree.
Mike Habib posted about the agile insect-catching lifestyle of anurognathid pterosaurs at the Pterosaur.net blog, hinting at a coming paper.
Gary of Project Dryptosaurus gushed about the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ, which is soon to be home to a Dino Day event on April 30. Head to Project Drypto for more details.
Stu Pond explores that ever-confusing line between fact and fantasy in paleoart at Paleo Illustrata.
Keeping true to her promise to devote the month of April to 80's and 90's paleoart, Trish is writing about the MacMillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals at her Obligatory Art Blog. Start here!
At ART Evolved, Darthsantuzzo posted an intriguing piece about how many dinosaur toys seem to be directly inspired by pieces of paleoart, with no clear indication of their artistic heritage.
Twit Picks
A bit of a left turn this week, as I pick a few of my favorites from the recently trending hashtag #EvilDinosaurs:
- @coherent_light: Diabloceratops #EvilDinosaurs #notsureImdoingthisright
- @xisor: Emily Brontësaurus #EvilDinosaurs #RomanticismIsEvilRight?
- @edyong209: Beelzebubatops #EvilDinosaurs
- @badastronomer: Jon Kyl #EvilDinosaurs #NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement #OrIsIt
- And the prize for strangest suggestion goes to @wackyvorlon for: "Anti-Semitic mollusc #EvilDinosaurs"
I wrote about this project above and couldn't resist picking one this week for this spot in the roundup. Check out the true coolness of Sharon Wegner-Larson's Ptera-Island pattern.
Outrageously Off-Topic Indulgence
I've been involved off and on with a film collective with come of my Bloomington friends for years, having written and acted in a few short films over the years. They've recently ramped up their activity, taking on some very cool video projects, including a Caravaggio-inspired video for Dylan Ettinger's single Lion of Judah. Check out 19th State Productions on Tumblr.
Thank you for sharing my artwork - it's really fun to see it here!!
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