Dynaverse.net
Off Topic => Ten Forward => Topic started by: Nemesis on August 04, 2004, 06:21:34 pm
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Link to article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3535272.stm)
Hi-tech scanning equipment was used to X-ray the brain case of the Jurassic era bird, called Archaeopteryx.
It revealed structures similar to those that modern birds use for flight and balance, the study in Nature reports.
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Dr Milner commented: "This all suggests that the development of the bird brain goes hand in hand with that of the physical structures, e.g. the wings, that allow it to fly.
"In fact, the brain is so bird-like, that the flying process must have evolved much sooner than anyone thought."
Dr Graham Taylor, an expert in animal flight dynamics at Oxford University, said the paper was "very exciting".
"The findings are consistent with what we know about Archaeopteryx flight," he commented.
"But this sheds a lot of light on the evolution of the brain.
"Its regional development is similar to that of modern birds. But, as you might expect for a transitional form, the brain as a whole remains relatively small."
Good Read Nemesis.
Stephen
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Good Read Nemesis.
Stephen
I found it interesting. I wonder if similar studies have been done on the skulls of other more well known flightless dinosaurs. Could those structures exist in variant less developed forms in other dinosaurs (with other purposes)?
This is just one example of how advancing technologies allow the review of old knowledge to gain information that was missed by more primitive techniques.
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IKV Nemesis,
Good Read Nemesis.
Stephen
I found it interesting. I wonder if similar studies have been done on the skulls of other more well known flightless dinosaurs. Could those structures exist in variant less developed forms in other dinosaurs (with other purposes)?
This is just one example of how advancing technologies allow the review of old knowledge to gain information that was missed by more primitive techniques.
That's an interesting sig that you've got there! 8)
mathguy
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That's an interesting sig that you've got there! 8)
mathguy
With the dinosaur posts I have made recently I couldn't resist "borrowing" it when I saw it in use on groklaw. (http://www.groklaw.net/)
I am also considering introducing sentient velociraptors to my D&D campaign so it matched some things I was thinking of. A Velociraptor named "Barney" would go over well (ok interestingly) singing that song. :) I have a player who would probably sing it for me (the SPCA forbids me to sing :( ).
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It's possible. Eioraptor and other therapods were feathered and one in particular ( the eioraptor, I think) had longish feathered arms used to grab prey in a leaping flying tackle. The structure needed to do this likely evolved into flight control centers in successive creatures like the archeopteryx. Also bones and feather structures evolved from these "grab ass" artists.
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B.C: " I am an achaeopterix; a small flightless bird with hairy feathers!"