Post by Barry the Baryonyx on Jun 27, 2007 19:53:36 GMT -5
Pachycephalosaurus
Pic from © Dinosauricon
The unique Pachycephalosaurus had a thick, dome-shaped head with some remains measuring up to 10 inches thick. While it had been believed that the Pachycephalosaurus used its thick skull to ram head-to-head against other males and predators as defense and as a sign of dominance, further studies have disproven this myth. The domed area of its skull was actually made of porous and fragile bone that would have crumpled had two skulls collided. All of the remains found so far show no signs of scarring, leading scientists to believe that Pachycephalosaurus never rammed its head into anything as hard as its own skull. More likely, it would ram another or a predator in the side, damaging internal organs and causing massive bruises while suffering little to no damage itself.
The dome-headed dino would not automatically start ramming a predator, though. Running was its first line of defense and, despite traveling in herds, it would much rather flee than risk its own life. Two powerful hind legs carried the Pachycephalosaurus' body, and it had two short forelimbs that may have let it walk (and possibly run) on all four limbs while scavenging for food. Its tail was stiff, filled with a mesh of tendons around the base. What purpose this could have served is unknown, but it may have aided in balance while charging at a predator or could even have allowed for fast whipping actions.
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
ORDER: Ornithischia
SUBORDER: Pachycephalosauria
INFRAORDER: Carnosauria
GENUS: Pachycephalosaurus
Additional Sources:
Zoom Dinosaurs, www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/ ~ Shawn Sackenheim, All Game Guide
Pic from © Dinosauricon
The unique Pachycephalosaurus had a thick, dome-shaped head with some remains measuring up to 10 inches thick. While it had been believed that the Pachycephalosaurus used its thick skull to ram head-to-head against other males and predators as defense and as a sign of dominance, further studies have disproven this myth. The domed area of its skull was actually made of porous and fragile bone that would have crumpled had two skulls collided. All of the remains found so far show no signs of scarring, leading scientists to believe that Pachycephalosaurus never rammed its head into anything as hard as its own skull. More likely, it would ram another or a predator in the side, damaging internal organs and causing massive bruises while suffering little to no damage itself.
The dome-headed dino would not automatically start ramming a predator, though. Running was its first line of defense and, despite traveling in herds, it would much rather flee than risk its own life. Two powerful hind legs carried the Pachycephalosaurus' body, and it had two short forelimbs that may have let it walk (and possibly run) on all four limbs while scavenging for food. Its tail was stiff, filled with a mesh of tendons around the base. What purpose this could have served is unknown, but it may have aided in balance while charging at a predator or could even have allowed for fast whipping actions.
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
ORDER: Ornithischia
SUBORDER: Pachycephalosauria
INFRAORDER: Carnosauria
GENUS: Pachycephalosaurus
Additional Sources:
Zoom Dinosaurs, www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/ ~ Shawn Sackenheim, All Game Guide
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