Author: Hashi

Tyrannosaurus rex

Published on by Hashi1 Comment
tyrannosaurs
Another of the large dinosaurs ‘emerging’ from the walls here

Why is T. Rex the best known of all the dinosaurs? Is it only in the western world that it’s the archetypal dinosaur—after all, the fossils have all been found in North America? Do folks from other cultures name a different beast if asked to say the first dinosaur that comes to mind?

T. rex lived in what is now western North America. It had a much wider range than other tyrannosaurids and its fossils are found in a range of geological formations. It was undeniably huge—modern estimates put it at 13 m (43 ft) in length. While there were other theropods that might have been just as big or bigger than Tyrannosaurus, it’s still one of the largest land carnivores ever, with the strongest bite force of any land animal. As the biggest carnivore around, Tyrannosaurus rex was probably an apex predator, though some experts think it was mostly a scavenger.

T. rex has been one of the best-known dinosaurs for over a hundred years, featuring in film, advertising, postal stamps, and many other media. It is the only dinosaur that is commonly known to the general public by its full scientific name. King Terrible Lizard, clearly, you rule.

wildlife crossing

Published on by HashiLeave a comment
wildlifecrossing

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing—the largest of its kind in the world—is currently under construction nearby. I climbed the hill out back and saw it in the distance, spanning the 10-lane 101 freeway. Decades in the planning and fundraising, this vital structure will protect biodiversity across the region by linking undeveloped land that‘s currently fractured by major roads. It’s hoped that it will help prevent the extinction of our threatened mountain lion population. The crossing is due to be completed some time next year.

sky watcher

Published on by Hashi1 Comment
BillSelby

I attended a docent continuing education session with Mr Skywatcher himself, Bill Selby. He started by asking: ‘When you’re taking the public on a walk, how much time do you spend observing the sky?” Mmm, hardly any, unless we’re watching a bird. ”It’s half your view!” he reminded us. “Focus on it!”

He went on to tell us that the National Weather Service costs a mere $4 per citizen per year, but its invaluable predictions are in jeopardy because of the current Federal cutbacks. I’m keen to read his book, The California Sky Watcher: Understanding Weather Patterns and What Comes Next. So much to learn about this wonderful world.

trilobite

Published on by HashiLeave a comment
trilobite

Trilobites are extinct marine arthropods. They first appear in the fossil record of the Early Cambrian period (521 million years ago); the last trilobites disappeared in the mass extinction at the end of the Permian about 251.9 million years ago. Trilobites were among the most successful of all early animals, existing in oceans for almost 270 million years, with over 22,000 species having been described.

This very dramatic specimen, here in C’s office, has expansive genal (cheek) and pygidial (tail) spines. It was found in the nearly half billion year old Middle Ordovician Asery Level deposits of the Volkhov River region near Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Triceratops

Published on by Hashi1 Comment
triceratops2

The three-horned, plant-eating Triceratops lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 to 66 million years ago, in what is now western North America. It, along with seventy-five percent of the plant and animal species on earth, was wiped out in the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) extinction event. This model now resides on the living room wall at S & C’s place.

Nostoceras

Published on by Hashi1 Comment
Nostoceras

According to the plaque on the mantlepiece: This is a really cool heteromorph ammonite (Nostoceras sp.) fossil from the Tulear Province of Madagascar. Unlike most ammonites with a tightly-coiled spiral shell that retains its shape throughout its life, heteromorph ammonites have irregularly-coiled or uncoiled shells. They are Late Cretaceous in age (Campanian Stage) or approximately 70 million years old.