Many thanks to the submitter, who did all of my work for me!Before you look over this text, I would
Many thanks to the submitter, who did all of my work for me!Before you look over this text, I would like to clarify. This text comes from a novel by Douglas Preston. Tyrannosaur Canyon, the book in question, is a great read and I suggest anyone into Crichton’s books and dinosaurs give it a try. I would like to simultaneously give props to, and laugh at, this novel for a variety of reasons. It is obvious that the author researched there subject extensively, evident by his extensive wording of scientific processes as well as his acknowledgments of such research in the back of the book; however, it seems that he either did not research enough, or used bad sources. Pros- The story revolves around the discovery of a fossilized Tyrannosaurus mummy (That happens to be filled with an extraterrestrial virus that may have killed off the dinosaurs [fiction]). The head scientist (Who is kind of an asshole) had previously theorized that Tyrannosaurus (and most Tyrannosaurs) had feathers. His theory is proven by the mummy, as it shows impressions of a feathery coating. I might add that this novel was written in 2005, a time that was kind of in-limbo with the whole Dinosaurs Had Feathers! movement, So I commend the author for this,Cons-(Picture 1) He references Nanotyrannus as a valid genus. Which, at the time, was permissible; however, he uses the name Nanotyrannosaurus. I have never heard of this name, and can not find any mention of it via the internet, was it in use originally? He states that Torosaurus had the biggest head to evolve on a land MAMMAL, I hope that this is a type since animal and mammal are somewhat similar in their writings. I am not aware if we know for sure what the ancestor of bovines and ‘the cow’ is 110%, and unless we do this is a fallacy. Also, Ornithomimus probably did not run at speeds of 70 mph, but more like 30-40 mph.(Picture 2) The bite pressure of Tyrannosaurus was enough to overcome steel, and lesser metals, but the teeth (and mouth) would break in the process. Pretty sure Tyrannosaurus might not have been using its forelimbs for killing its prey, but such theories exist(Picture 3) Coelophysis most undoubtedly lived during the Triassic era, and never would have come into contact with Tyrannosaurus, or any Tyrannosaurs.(Picture 4) I could find no mention of monkey puzzle trees reaching heights of over 150 feet, whether that is directed mostly towards modern species, as opposed to fossil ones, is unknown. -- source link