I used to be a firm sauropod fan (the bigger, the better), but then I learned of Stygimoloch. That’s right, that’s it’s name, it’s got the river styx in it, and the Babylonian god Moloch, and its skull looks like this—yep, you’re seeing that right, it’s a goddamn dragon.
Later on, I learned that both Stygimoloch and what used to be thought to be a close relative, Dracorex Hogwartsia—yes, again, they went there and called him ‘dragon-king of Hogwarts’, because well, he looks like this—are probably just juvenile forms of Pachycephalosaurus. Boo!
But, lest all you Triceratops fans start gloating, it’s been proposed that similarly, Triceratops is just a juvenile form of Torosaurus—however, they’re probably just going to relabel all Torosaurs as Triceratopses.
On the other hand, for all those jilted Brontosaur-lovers out there—move over Apatosaurus, the Bronto’s back!
If you’re a triceratops fan, I highly recommend a visit to Utah’s Natural History Museum in Salt Lake City. They have a really nice display wall of triceratops skulls illustrating their family tree.
I liked T-Rex, but just him by himself kind of lacked cool factor for me.
There had to be that bigger picture that he was part of.
He had to have his arch nemesis Triceratops, and you had to have the ultra gigantic, untouchable sauropods because every mystical world has to have some unswayable force of nature.
And who could not love Iguanodon?
I mean look, it’s designed from birth to give the original Thumbs Up.
And what would a morning be with out seeing Rhamphorhynchus or Dimorphodon flying by the yard?
Although if Quetzalcoatlus flies over the yard, i might be prompted to run inside.
Or yell Toruk Makto, if i am feeling rather avatarish?
Well, according to that revered dinosaur documentary, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” a T-Rex can drink a whole chlorinated swimming pool then eat a medium sized dog with no ill effects. Then floss with the chain.
