• About
  • Contact
Thursday, March 30, 2023
MGBEKE MEDIA
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Mgbeke News
  • Mgbeke TV Show
  • Real Stories
  • Daily Soul Tonic
  • Voice Of Nature
  • Hidden Truths
  • Let’s Connect
  • Mgbeke Marketplace
  • Advertise with us
No Result
View All Result
MGBEKE MEDIA
No Result
View All Result
Home Mgbeke Special

Scientists have digitally rebuilt the brain of a dinosaur, revealing “surprising” insights into its diet and behavior.

by Mgbeke Media
December 15, 2020
in Mgbeke Special
42 1
0
Scientists have digitally rebuilt the brain of a dinosaur, revealing “surprising” insights into its diet and behavior.
26
SHARES
429
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Scientists have digitally rebuilt the brain of a dinosaur, revealing “surprising” insights into its diet and behavior.

Using advanced imaging and 3D modeling techniques, researchers from the UK’s University of Bristol “rebuilt” the brain of a Thecodontosaurus, a sauropod that roamed what is now England some 205 million years ago.

Experts found that unlike its plant-eating relatives Diplodocus and Brontosaurus, Thecodontosaurus may have eaten meat — and could have walked on two legs.

“Our analysis of Thecodontosaurus’ brain uncovered many fascinating features, some of which were quite surprising,” Antonio Ballell, a PhD student at the University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences, said in a statement.

“Whereas its later relatives moved around ponderously on all fours, our findings suggest this species may have walked on two legs and been occasionally carnivorous,” Ballell, the study’s lead author, added.

Thecodontosaurus, whose name means “socket-toothed lizard,” was a dinosaur the size of a large dog and lived in the late Triassic age.

Large fossils of the dinosaur, also known as the “Bristol dinosaur,” were discovered in the 1800s, but scientists have only recently been able to study the specimens in detail without destroying them, using 3D models generated from CT scans.

Experts digitally extracted bone from the rock, and identified anatomical details about the dinosaur’s brain and inner ear that had not yet been seen in the fossil.

“Even though the actual brain is long gone, the software allows us to recreate brain and inner ear shape via the dimensions of the cavities left behind,” Ballell explained.

“The braincase of Thecodontosaurus is beautifully preserved so we compared it to other dinosaurs, identifying common features and some that are specific to Thecodontosaurus,” Ballell said.

Researchers found that the creature’s brain cast revealed large floccular lobes, which are important for balance, indicating that the dinosaur moved on two feet.

“This structure is also associated with the control of balance and eye and neck movements, suggesting Thecodontosaurus was relatively agile and could keep a stable gaze while moving fast,” Ballell said.

“Our analysis showed parts of the brain associated with keeping the head stable and eyes and gaze steady during movement were well-developed. This could also mean Thecodontosaurus could occasionally catch prey, although its tooth morphology suggests plants were the main component of its diet. It’s possible it adopted omnivorous habits,” he added.

Experts also reconstructed the dinosaur’s inner ears, and estimated that Thecodontosaurus had a high hearing frequency, which would have allowed it to recognize noises made by other animals, and suggests it had some sort of social complexity.

The research was published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

This story was first published on CNN.com, “Scientists digitally rebuilt this dinosaur’s brain and made some surprising discoveries”

Share10Tweet7Send

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Mgbeke Media is not the everyday news and media organization. We bring a unique new look to media presentation. Aside from our dedication to the natural approach to global dissemination of fact-based news as well as educational productions and publications, Mgbeke Media offers motivational and inspirational publications, outreach programs and products for our readers, viewers and beneficiaries.

Contact Details

Address: Massachusetts, MA 01002
Phone Number: +1 413-777-7990
Email: info@mgbeke.media

Tags

300 chibok girls Imo State Toxic People

Page Links

Send Us A Message

Mgbeke News

Mgbeke TV Show

Real Stories 

Daily Soultonic

Voice of Nature

Hidden Truths

Shop For Charity

Lets Connect

Mgbeke Marketplace


Like Mgbeke Media on Facebook:

  • About
  • Contact

© 2020 - 2022 Mgbeke Media. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Mgbeke News
  • Mgbeke TV Show
  • Real Stories
  • Daily Soul Tonic
  • Voice Of Nature
  • Hidden Truths
  • Let’s Connect
  • Mgbeke Marketplace
  • Advertise with us

© 2020 - 2022 Mgbeke Media. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In