New dinosaur goodness!

Done for a friend of mine, a promo piece for an upcoming project. Can't say what for yet. I'll leave you to guess at the dinosaurs, although most are fairly obvious.

Best,

Brett

Dilophosaurus a Spinosaur?

Years ago Gregory S. Paul put forth the idea that the Spinosaurs evolved from animals like Dilophosaurus. They do look a lot alike, but current thinking has the spinosaurs evolving from animals similar to Torvosaurus (I'm saying Torvosaurs since I have no idea what's going on with the megalosaurs right now.) But could the similar look be the result of convergent evolution? (animals evolving similar appearance because they preform the same function, like dolphins and icthyosaurs, or Thylacines and the dog) Were Dilophosaurs also fish eaters? I have no real idea but a current study that tests isotopes in teeth might be the answer. They finally published a study on the teeth of spinosaurs that shows they were more aquatic in there habitats than other theropods, or at least most other theropods.

So does the similar look of Dilophosaurs hint at a Spinosaur like life style? Most likely not, they appear to just be ramped up Coelophysids. But one never knows, maybe we'll find a Dilophosaur with fish in it's belly like the British Baryonyx:)

For more information on swimming Spinosaurs go here!

Best,

Brett

Dino Dump

Some of these are now outdated. A Chilantrasaurus with a carcass. This beast is now thought to be related to Megaraptor. See I told you this was outdated;)

My first Austroraptor, I didn't like the feathering on this one.



Eustreptaspondylus with a baby/young pleisiosaur.

Rugops, an early Abelisaur from Africa.

Crylophosaurus with a more Dilophosaurus feel.

My first Therizinosaurus, I have a new one that I need to scan, hopefully in the next few days.

Best,

Brett

Sitting Theropods and their footprints

A few months ago a new paper described a fossil impression of a sitting theropod. I had actually drawn a reconstruction of the beast months before, based on footprints from the area, known to some as the St George theropod. It's entirely speculative, but since there is no actual skeleton associated to the footprints, it's hard to say who the footprints actually belong to. It could actually be one of a number of known species but in this case nothing official has been named. So this is a hypothetical image of the track maker and below is a shot of the position it was in while sitting.

For this image I actually chose a theropod that I had not drawn before, so this is a Liliensternus inthe resting position. Note the strange position of the front legs/arms, Freaky!

For more information head on over to the Open Source Paleontologist:)

More new dinosaurs soon, I'm a bit behind on my actual work so I have't had time for many new drawings. But I am working on some:)

Best,

Brett