The Triceratops Never Existed, It Was Actually a Young Version Of Another Dinosaur
Scientists are saying that the Triceratops dinosaur—you know, the three horned one—was actually a juvenile form of a Torosaurus, the three horned dinosaur you don't know. Apparently, dinosaurs' skulls can shape-shift.
The scientists, John Scannella and Jack Horner, believe that the Torosaurus and Triceratops are actually of the same species. According to the them, as a Triceratops aged, its horns and frill became more similar to that of a Torosaurus. Short becomes long, saw-edged becomes smoothed and so on. Having them be the same species would explain why there were never any young Torosaurus fossils discovered.
Fuck you, science.
Bert Lives.
On the plus side (as many commentators mentioned) the original New Scientist article does say that they'll do away with the Torosaurus name in favour of calling them all Triceratops.
ReplyDeleteAnyway Bert did seem like an adolescent needing to get some space to himself (pun not intended).
But the fact that the Triceratops is the juvenile of the Torosaurus means that the Triceratops stops being a Triceratops to become a Torosaurus....nothing BECOMES a Triceratops.
ReplyDeleteI am glad they're keeping the name, but...sad.
And that pun was totally intended.
*waves the bert4evah! banner*
ReplyDeleteword verification: trimazy
Related, M found this lunchbox a year or so ago with Pluto crying:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/52422536@N00/4857859775/