Lecture on Dinosaur Behavior and Physiology

Introduction

• Focus on the behavior and physiology of dinosaurs.
• Discussion of how dinosaurs moved, ate, and how their bodies worked (metabolism and body functions).
• Limited evidence available for non-avian dinosaurs due to extinction.

Evidence of Dinosaur Behavior

• Anatomical Evidence: Bones and preserved remains, such as a mummified hadrosaur.
• Trackways: Fossilized footprints providing insight into dinosaur movement and behavior.
  • Trackways as a record of motion, showing movement speed, group behavior, limb usage, and positioning.

Study of Trackways (Ichnology)

• Ichnology: Study of trace fossils including trackways, burrows, and feeding traces.
  • Trilobites and their feeding traces as examples.
• Origin of ichnology linked to dinosaurs, with discoveries dating back to 1802 by Pliny Moody in Massachusetts.

Historical Discoveries

• Early Discoveries: Pliny Moody's finding of three-toed tracks in Massachusetts, initially thought to be bird tracks.
• Edward Hitchcock's Involvement:
  • Published on trackways in the 1830s.
  • Believed large three-toed tracks were from giant birds, in contrast to others who thought they were from reptiles.
• Richard Owen and Other Opinions: Argued the tracks were from large reptiles, contributing to the understanding of dinosaur-bird connections.

Notable Trackway Discoveries

• Paluxy River Discoveries (1908-1930s):
  • Flood exposed dinosaur tracks near Glen Rose, Texas.
  • Robert T. Byrd discovered sauropod and theropod tracks, leading to major excavations and the creation of Dinosaur State Park.

Misinterpretations and Challenges

• Fake Human Footprints: George Adams carved fake human footprints, leading to misunderstandings.
• Moccasin Tracks: Oddly shaped tracks that were initially misinterpreted; later understood as theropod tracks altered by mud conditions.

Identification of Track Makers

• Theropods: Acrocanthosaurus identified as a likely track maker for large three-toed tracks.
• Ornithopods: Small ornithopods, possibly iguanodon relatives, created three-toed tracks without claws.
• Sauropods: Sauroposeidon believed to have made large sauropod tracks.

Conclusion

• Dinosaur trackways provide valuable insights into dinosaur behavior and physiology.
• The necessity of considering sediment conditions and post-depositional processes in interpreting trackways.
• Ongoing research and discoveries continue to enhance our understanding of dinosaur life.