It's a new dinosaur...or is it?

[merrily]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/05/02/science.dinosaur.reut/index.html

I think they found a unicorn!

[twickster]

The pachycephalosaurs in general had massive necks and could inflict significant “blunt force trauma” on other dinosaurs, Bakker said.

“This new species … likely pressed their foreheads together and shoved one another really hard,” he added.

Hee!

I wish they had a picture, though. (what?)

[FatBaldGuy]

I don’t think there have been any new dinosaurs for millions of years now.

[Darwin_s_Finch]

@twickster

Hee!

I wish they had a picture, though. (what?)

Like this?

And here’s a photo of the skull.

I’m a bit puzzled as to why this particular find seems to warrant a re-working of dinosaurian family trees, though. Surely paleontologists did not really expect that there were no new species evolving, even near the end of the Cretaceous! Heck, they’ve already classified it as a pachycephalosaur, so they have a good idea of its affinities. A new species within an established lineage is hardly cause to go “**ack to the drawing board!” But then, Bakker was always a bit…odd.

“This new species … likely pressed their foreheads together and shoved one another really hard,” he added.

Maybe they should nick-name it “Stampy”.

[Cervaise]

@Darwin's Finch

I’m a bit puzzled as to why this particular find seems to warrant a re-working of dinosaurian family trees, though.

I suppose there’s a reason Bakker always gets quoted in these articles, and guys like you don’t. You say things like, “We have a good idea of its affinities,” and Bakker’s going on with the rending and gnashing. He gives good blurb.