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Post by Griffin on Jul 25, 2011 2:50:37 GMT
Any really large land animal today would be a mammal which isnt really fair to compare with a dinosaur color-wise. Even so like blade said there are some flashy ones like girraffes, okapis and zebras. I have nothing against loudly colored larger dinosaurs. Birds and reptiles use color to communicate no reason dinosaurs wouldn't have either.
Then somebody is going to say "but they need to blend in" then im gonna say "sure but sometimes mating is more important" and then they are gonna say "nya!" and then im gonna say "booglyboogly boo!" Its just going to go on for pages and pages and pages. Lets try not to get into it.
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Post by amanda on Jul 25, 2011 8:46:53 GMT
Booglyboogly boo!!! Dammit.  |
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Post by Himmapaan on Jul 25, 2011 11:44:45 GMT
That's exactly my point. Giraffes have striking patterns, but I wouldn't call them gaudy. The colours are actually earthy and subdued. That's what I'm trying to say about being astute with choice and application: one can paint a Triceratops in just a combination of greys, for instance, without making it dull at all, simply via gradations and patterning.  Likewise, the colours of many pheasants are gorgeous and vibrant, but they never look as though a toddler has been let loose with a box of crayons on them because their range of colours more often than not complement each other; hence, not gaudy. I'm clearly not arguing against colour, guys. |
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bfler
Junior Member
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Post by bfler on Jul 25, 2011 14:35:50 GMT
Are there any new pictures of the Stegosaurus maquette?
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Post by Blade-of-the-Moon on Jul 25, 2011 19:28:29 GMT
Not yet. It will probably go up for preorder next month then we'll see more pics.
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Post by gfxtwin on Jul 29, 2011 18:03:30 GMT
The mummified Hardosaur that was discovered was proven to have been a burnt orangeish color, right? Also, some of the more birdlike dinosaurs, raptors and such, probably would have looked flashy because they had feathers. Also, they probably wouldn't need to worry about blending in or anything like a T-rex might because they are just so fast.
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Post by Seijun on Jul 29, 2011 18:37:47 GMT
I don't think it's possible to "prove" that any dinosaur was any color, only possible to "prove" that it <i>could</i> have been a particular color if outside forces, like environment or diet, were not at play.
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Post by itstwentybelow on Jul 29, 2011 18:50:17 GMT
Well, we know that determining color is possible for some well-preserved fossils of feathered dinosaurs at least. Melanosome analyses taken from the preserved integument of Sinosauropteryx has shown that the animal was primarily a burnt-orange color, with an orange and white banded tail. You can even see this pattern evident in some fossils. Anchiornis is another feathered dino which has been subjected to this same analysis, and we now know it was mainly dark gray/black, with reddish feathers around the head, and that its wings had a black and white pattern to them.
I've read that the pattern of scales on one of these hadrosaur fossils (can't remember which) suggests a striped pattern, but the colors were indeterminate.
I think it would be fantastic if Carnegie were to do Sinosauropteryx and Anchiornis next year, or at least in coming years. They would be awesome models judging by the last round of feathered dinos attempted by the Carnegie, and with the colors they would have had in life, too!
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Post by Griffin on Jul 31, 2011 21:21:06 GMT
The mummified Hardosaur that was discovered was proven to have been a burnt orangeish color, right? Also, some of the more birdlike dinosaurs, raptors and such, probably would have looked flashy because they had feathers. Also, they probably wouldn't need to worry about blending in or anything like a T-rex might because they are just so fast. No the hadrosaur was determined to have a banded pattern on the tail. Nobody knows about the colors. Having feathers has nothing to do with it look at modern birds of prey. Most of them have colors/patterns designed to blend in and not for display. Remember prey is fast too they still want to blend in. |
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Post by Seijun on Jul 31, 2011 21:56:55 GMT
Seems like the most flashy birds are those that live in jungle or rainforest type situations. Do they have fewer natural predators? North american birds are quite bland in comparison. There are exceptions though, like orioles and jays.
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Post by Griffin on Jul 31, 2011 23:36:15 GMT
Seems like the most flashy birds are those that live in jungle or rainforest type situations. Do they have fewer natural predators? North american birds are quite bland in comparison. There are exceptions though, like orioles and jays. Flashy birds def have predators. Its a tradeoff. Staying safe from predation is important but so is impressing a potential mate. Song birds in north america can be just as striking. open a field guide and leaf through it sometime you will see what i mean. Likewise there are plenty of tropical birds that are quite bland. |
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Post by Seijun on Aug 1, 2011 2:00:07 GMT
It just seems like tropical birds are fancier on average. I know that when I look through my "birds of north america" book, I am always very jealous of all the tropical species south of the USA.
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Post by Griffin on Aug 1, 2011 11:53:36 GMT
That could be because in a thick jungle its tougher to make yourself visible. But still there are a lot of birds in North America that are truly stunning too. I saw a scarlet tanager one time and I swear you need sunglasses to look at that thing. The list goes on.
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Post by arioch on Aug 1, 2011 18:04:40 GMT
Flashy colours are def a possibility in big dinosaurs who rely in their size to stay safe (think Spinosaurs or sauropods), and because of their huge mass or environment don´t really have the chance to blend with anything. Or in big frilled ceratopsians.
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Post by Seijun on Aug 1, 2011 21:26:09 GMT
Well, if the sauropod wore camoflage and stood REALLY stlll in the middle of the forest it might be overlooked... Why else do you think Mokele-mbembe hasn't been caught yet?
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Post by arioch on Aug 2, 2011 9:07:51 GMT
Hmmm... Because it doesn´t exist? ;D
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bfler
Junior Member
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Post by bfler on Aug 2, 2011 9:35:56 GMT
If it is like in the case of elephants where adult males leave the herd it would be a bit dangerous for a lonely sauropod or ceratopsian to wear flashy colors. And you assume that they have used color for mating but what is if maybe the size of the neck, the horns or frill was important.
Or furthermore in case of ceratopsians for what did they need colors when they did horn fights. The victorious male would have beeen the only one with the right for mating.
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Post by arioch on Aug 2, 2011 10:45:41 GMT
An adult sauropod doesn´t have natural enemies (at least those in the range of diplodocus or bigger) ... and either way its anatomy and size prevents him from blend succesfully with anything. Regarding ceratopsians, bright colours would be useful to intimidate predators or just mating . Considering how their skulls where builded its not ilikely that males could really horn fight.
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bfler
Junior Member
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Post by bfler on Aug 2, 2011 11:59:59 GMT
A pack of lions is also able to bring down an healthy adult elephant, so why shouldn't this be possible in case of a sauropod and a pack of carnivores like Allosaurus.
And I don't think that a single sauropod with camouflage would be easy to recognize in a forest with different sized trees.
I heard that there are some skulls of ceratopsians with injuries that could only caused by horns of other ceratopsians. They could have snagged their horns and pushed each other like elephants or deer. So why no fights?
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Post by arioch on Aug 2, 2011 13:11:02 GMT
A pack of lions don´t take down healthy elephants on a daily basis. If that ever happened, it would be a very very extraordinary situation.
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Likewise, the colours of many pheasants are gorgeous and vibrant, but they never look as though a toddler has been let loose with a box of crayons on them because their range of colours more often than not complement each other; hence, not gaudy. 
