Dwarf Dinos on Island - A study to appear in the journal "Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology," onfirms the existence of dwarf dinosaurs on ancient Hateg Island which was located in modern day Romania. The scientists doing the research found that at least four of the Hateg dinosaurs were dwarves. This includes the titanosaurian sauropod Magyarosaurus, which normally had a body length of 82 feet, but on the island grew to only 16 to 19 feet.
Also a hadrosaurid named Telmatosaurus which usually grew to about 23 to 33 feet long on the mainland, was only 13-foot-long on Hateg. The researchers examined sections of the dinosaurs' bones to make sure animals were adults and not juveniles.
"So these forms are all typically half the length of their close relatives on larger land masses, and this equates to a body mass of perhaps one-eighth that of the relatives," said Michael J. Benton the lead author of the study and a paleontologist from the University of Bristol.
"Body mass is what matters most in biological terms, such as physiology and food intake."
The scientists believe a process called process called progenesis, which shortens the developmental period was responsible for the dwarfism. Large animals
often evolve into dwarf forms on islands because of limited food and range.
UnMuseum Newsletter, March 2010
(Submitted by T. Peter Park)
Showing posts with label diminuitive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diminuitive. Show all posts
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Friday, 7 August 2009
Dwarf miniature horse is Australia's smallest pony
Koda the American miniature horse is also a dwarf, which enables him to help himself to the fridge, sit in a car and enjoy lots of attention
by: Kirsty Ross
6 August 2009
HE may look like a cuddly children's toy but this is Koda, Australia's smallest horse, and he can almost fit inside a fridge.
He's cheecky, cute and smaller than a boxer dog, weighs just 35kg and can travel on the front passenger seat of a car.
Koda, who has just turned one, is an American miniature so was always destined to deal with small horse syndrome. But he is also a dwarf.
He was diagnosed shortly after being born and as a result lives at a vet hospital north-east of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia.
Vet Andy Lynch at the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital, said he was "no bigger than a cat" when he was born.
Koda beat the odds and lived past 12 months - and thrived despite a barrage of health problems and major surgical procedures. Many more are planned.
Dr Lynch said: "He had a punky look, a fuzzy forelock and his mane stuck up like a mohawk.
"His bottom jaw stuck out, he had upturned nostrils and a wrinkled nose.
"Below his little round tummy, his shortened legs constantly buckled."
Koda's poor prognosis left Dr Lynch with little doubt he should be put down.
But veterinary nurse Karen Stephenson, 23, was amazed by the gutsy, plucky personality in the little pony.
"I'd never seen a miniature horse and I just thought him amazing," she said.
"I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and thought he deserved a go at some good quality life, so I took him on."
Dr Lynch has performed about $10,000 worth of leg surgery on Koda, but the bill is expected to top $30,000. The next step is major dentistry to remove adult teeth that will never fit in his little mouth. Perhaps then he won't be able to tug at the bin liners like he does now.
Koda has recovered well from every operation so far and takes his medicine like a "little man", Dr Lynch said.
by: Kirsty Ross
6 August 2009
HE may look like a cuddly children's toy but this is Koda, Australia's smallest horse, and he can almost fit inside a fridge.
He's cheecky, cute and smaller than a boxer dog, weighs just 35kg and can travel on the front passenger seat of a car.
Koda, who has just turned one, is an American miniature so was always destined to deal with small horse syndrome. But he is also a dwarf.
He was diagnosed shortly after being born and as a result lives at a vet hospital north-east of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia.
Vet Andy Lynch at the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital, said he was "no bigger than a cat" when he was born.
Koda beat the odds and lived past 12 months - and thrived despite a barrage of health problems and major surgical procedures. Many more are planned.
Dr Lynch said: "He had a punky look, a fuzzy forelock and his mane stuck up like a mohawk.
"His bottom jaw stuck out, he had upturned nostrils and a wrinkled nose.
"Below his little round tummy, his shortened legs constantly buckled."
Koda's poor prognosis left Dr Lynch with little doubt he should be put down.
But veterinary nurse Karen Stephenson, 23, was amazed by the gutsy, plucky personality in the little pony.
"I'd never seen a miniature horse and I just thought him amazing," she said.
"I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and thought he deserved a go at some good quality life, so I took him on."
Dr Lynch has performed about $10,000 worth of leg surgery on Koda, but the bill is expected to top $30,000. The next step is major dentistry to remove adult teeth that will never fit in his little mouth. Perhaps then he won't be able to tug at the bin liners like he does now.
Koda has recovered well from every operation so far and takes his medicine like a "little man", Dr Lynch said.
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