The Dinosaur Museum News

Giant Pterosaur Discovered

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:21:21 +0000

The fossil vertebra of a giant pterosaur with a wingspan in excess of 16 metres has been found in Romania. Despite being such a large creature the pterosaur was fairly light, only 100 kilograms, otherwise it would not have been able to fly. The fossil bone was discovered in a nature reserve near to where the discovery of dinosaur remains was (more…)

New Velociraptor-type Dinosaur

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:15:18 +0000

A new predatory dinosaur has been discovered in Romania. It has been named Balaur bondoc meaning “stocky dragon’ and would have lived about 70 million years ago. The dinosaur was like a large Velociraptor. However it had two large claws on each foot instead of the one in Velociraptor’s case. (more…)

Dinosaur Bone at Charmouth

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:08:02 +0000

Local fossilist Chris Pamplin has discovered a dinosaur bone on Charmouth beach. Chris leads fossil walks at both Charmouth and Lyme Regis and this bone was found lying on the sand at Charmouth on the east beach. The bone was subsequently identified at Lyme Regis Museum to belong to a Scelidosaurus. There have been 10 discoveries of Scelidosaurus in (more…)

Mammoth Extinction

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:10:19 +0000

65 million years ago prehistoric mammals filled the ecological niche that was created by the extinction of the dinosaurs. Many of these mammals grew to large sizes and probably the best known is the woolly mammoth. It has always been believed that early humans had hunted mammoths to extinction. However (more…)

North Sea Mammoth Tusks

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:53:38 +0000

Two superb examples of woolly mammoth tusks have gone on display at the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester as the centrepiece of a display on Mammoths. The tusks originate from the North Sea. Between 50,000 and 20,000 years ago the North Sea did not exist and England was connected to the continent by low-lying pastures. Prehistoric mammals such as mammoths, woolly rhinos, horse and bison fed off the fertile lands. The tusks date to the end of this period and are unusually coloured owing to them having been in water, under the sea, for so long a time. (more…)

Great Dinosaur Hunt

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:52:28 +0000

Explore the Dinosaur Museum, in Dorchester, with its unusual mix of actual fossils, skeletons, and life-size dinosaur reconstructions combined with hands on and multi-media displays to discover the answers to the clues in the Dinosaur Mystery. All children who solve the Mystery can enter a prize draw and one lucky child each day will win a special dinosaur! Every day of the August Bank Holiday weekend - from Saturday 28 August to Bank Holiday Monday 30 August.

Triceratops and Torosaurus

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 08:13:06 +0000

A new study by renowned dinosaur expect Jack Horner and John Scannella, an earth sciences student, has come to the conclusion that Triceratops and Torosaurus are the same dinosaur but in different developmental stages. Triceratops is seen as a juvenile of the larger Torosaurus. The scientists believe that as Triceratops matured its characteristic neck-frill and horns changed shape and position to that commonly seen with Torosaurus. (more…)

Dinosaurs Ran Like Ostriches

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:58:36 +0000

New research from a joint Belgian and German team is revealing new ideas into how some bipedal dinosaurs moved. By studying ostriches and then computer modelling their movement, comparisons can be made with dinosaurs. Ostriches are flightless but their feathered forelimbs are not solely for display. The limbs are used in movement to help the giant bird break quickly, turn and zig-zag. Birds are descended from dinosaurs, and the dinosaurs’ small forelimbs could have been used in a similar way.

It had always been supposed that the short forelimbs of dinosaurs were used for ripping flesh from prey or for catching small prey such as insects and small mammals. This new research suggests that the forelimbs were also used to assist with balance, speed and agility.

Bite Marks on Bones

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:32:31 +0000

A new report details how researchers have found gnawing teeth marks on the bones of Cretaceous dinosaurs and marine reptiles. The dinosaur femur and rib bones demonstrate opposing pairs of teeth marks which would indicate that they belonged to a group of rodent-like mammals. (more…)

Dinosaur with the Longest Horns

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 12:59:26 +0000

The skull and horns of a new species of ceratopsian dinosaur has been discovered in Mexico. The complete horns have not been found but scientists estimate they would be over 1.2 metres in length, that is longer than any other dinosaur horns known. The dinosaur has been named Coahuilaceratops magnacuerna, and would have been similar to Triceratops with a horn above each eye, and a much shorter snout horn. (more…)