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Post by [][][]cordylus[][][] on Dec 30, 2008 1:41:34 GMT
It depends, stoneage. Sharks are covered in scales. but their design keeps a sort of "sheet" of water on the sharks' skin, which helps them move through water easier and faster. If the animals' skin was rough in only one direction (If you pet a shark backwards it is rough, if you pet it normally it is smooth), it would make it hydrodynamic.
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Post by tetonbabydoll on Dec 30, 2008 2:02:56 GMT
I know it is tough, CT, but you have to resist the urge to compare the mosasaurs etc, to fish, like sharks, and mammals, like whales. They were completely unlike any current living animal, like the dinos were too. You cannot apply the logic of fish anatomy to the reptiles. They are completely different.
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Post by [][][]cordylus[][][] on Dec 30, 2008 3:21:14 GMT
I was replying to stoneage's comment about how scales would make it hard to swim. And mosasaurs ARE like many current animals- The varanid lizards. After all, that's what mosasaurs are-- Basically big, mean, aquatic varanic lizards. And dinos were very much like birds, teton. There are plenty of animals to compare dinos (OK, at least the theropods) to.
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Post by sbell on Dec 30, 2008 4:39:48 GMT
Has anyone considered comparing to the marine iguanas--iguanas being the sister group to the varanids. and the marine iguana being the only living marine lizard?
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Post by tetonbabydoll on Dec 30, 2008 6:45:53 GMT
yea, I was thinking about that before my nap overcame me ( I am gettin' old ), There are quite a few aquatic, or semi-aquatic reptiles out there. But do they tend to have smooth, small scales, or really rough big ones, with lots of scutes etc? I suppose crocs are pretty rough, and they spend some time on both land and in water. Hmmm. Well anyway, the photos Dr A provided seem to put the point to rest, for now. The only thing to do is hope for a really well preserved specimen to show up. Oooooo, a mosasaur mummy would be soooo cool.....
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Post by Tyrannax on Dec 30, 2008 17:00:49 GMT
The great Galapagos Marine Iguana! I love that species. I'd imagine Mosasaurs to me much more sleek in the water in comparison to marine iguanas. Have you seen them swim near the bottom? Its awkward due to the rough tide. Marine Iguanas have rough skin. The scales are pointed in one direction, but if you ran your hand along a marine iguana, it would feel shark and rough..not smooth. This means Aquatic reptiles didn't necessarily have skin as smooth as a sharks.
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Post by [][][]cordylus[][][] on Dec 30, 2008 19:18:22 GMT
^ I didn't say sharks had smooth skin.. I said if you pet them backwards it is rough, but if you pet them normally, it is smooth. I pet a hognose snake (I think that was what it was... ) and it's skin was fairly like that too.
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Post by tetonbabydoll on Dec 30, 2008 19:36:51 GMT
The point being.....mosasaurs, hd smaller scales tham most snakes. It would LOOK smooth. That wa the original topic, are reconstructions wrong for not looking overtly scaly. The answer thus far would seem to be no. Ant, from what Dr A was saying, there were no visible scales at all on the skin impression. So, it was smooth looking too. Maybe, we should have our toyd made out of sand paper, so it would LOOK smooth, but if you PETTED it, at would br rough.... If the skin is like other fossiles, it is as it was in life, yes? Then what does the skin feel like. Dr A? was it smooooooth, or rough and bumpy?
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Post by tetonbabydoll on Dec 30, 2008 19:39:26 GMT
Though, upon thinking about it, I suppose there might be some variables there. Like the innate texture of the rock the fossil is made of, any weathering going on etc. I dunno.
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Post by Tyrannax on Dec 31, 2008 21:03:08 GMT
^ Technically its rock, but...you can blame fossilization and time for that... ;D
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Post by [][][]cordylus[][][] on Dec 31, 2008 21:49:24 GMT
^ Technically its rock, but...you can blame fossilization and time for that... ;D That's exactly what he said. He said it was rock.
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Post by Tyrannax on Jan 1, 2009 2:43:49 GMT
^ I know. Where did you come from? *Slides you under table* ;D
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Post by [][][]cordylus[][][] on Jan 1, 2009 2:45:52 GMT
^ I know. Where did you come from? *Slides you under table* ;D Than why did you even post your comment at all when it was just a "re-wording" of teton's post? That is what confused me. It sounded like you were disagreeing with him, but you believed in the exact same thing.
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Post by Tyrannax on Jan 1, 2009 3:03:26 GMT
I was agreeing with him. The defendant rests. ;D
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Post by [][][]cordylus[][][] on Jan 1, 2009 3:04:28 GMT
Then you should have said something like "I agree with you teton". !! ;D
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Post by Tyrannax on Jan 1, 2009 3:06:13 GMT
Now your just being controlling!
*Snaps your neck*
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Post by ningishzida on Jan 1, 2009 21:41:26 GMT
The point being.....mosasaurs, hd smaller scales tham most snakes. It would LOOK smooth. That wa the original topic, are reconstructions wrong for not looking overtly scaly. The answer thus far would seem to be no. Ant, from what Dr A was saying, there were no visible scales at all on the skin impression. So, it was smooth looking too. Maybe, we should have our toyd made out of sand paper, so it would LOOK smooth, but if you PETTED it, at would br rough.... If the skin is like other fossiles, it is as it was in life, yes? Then what does the skin feel like. Dr A? was it smooooooth, or rough and bumpy? Where do you get this stuff?. Those Mosasaur scales are still at least as large as a komodo dragon's, and from 15 feet away a Komodo does not look smooth and slick like an orca. I would agree though that in 1/40th scale the scales would be too small to depict on the toy/model, but to a human looking at the real animal, a mosasaur would look scaly like a komodo dragon does, and NOT slick like an orca.
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Post by tetonbabydoll on Jan 1, 2009 21:54:26 GMT
You can say it, but you would be wrong. Did you even bother reading my other posts? I have both photos and scientific papers quoted as saying that the scales on the fossilized mosasar skin measured 2.5 by 3mm You can disagree, but those are the measurements I found in a % MINUTE google search. And being a marine reptile expert, Dr A has yet to disagree with that. But thank you once again for treating me like a moron and totally dismissing anything you personally don't wanna hear
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Post by tomhet on Jan 1, 2009 22:08:42 GMT
Easy guys, no more fighting.
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Post by tetonbabydoll on Jan 1, 2009 22:11:53 GMT
mmm ok
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