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Published: 2020-07-08 23:23:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 9808; Favourites: 168; Downloads: 6
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Description
European Hadrosaur diversity fell at the boundary, but in certain cases were able to survive in the Oligocene alongside various newcomers. The Orthomerid Hadrosauromorphs were an example of this. Descended from the Late Cretaceous Belgian genus Orthomerus, these were never particularly common animals. Outside of Europe, Hadrosauromorphs as basal as this were almost unheard of on Alter Earth. A smattering of fossils assigned to the group have been recovered from Paleogene Europe, with the majority known from rather sub-par remains. These were on the whole modestly sized by Hadrosauromorph standards, with the largest Eocene genus (Omenacosaurus of Spain) measuring up to 7m long and possessed slender narrow skulls suggestive of a selective browsing niche. Indeed, Orthomerids evolved certain features of the teeth and jaws that were strongly convergent with those of Lambeosaurine Hadrosaurs. The family was able to survive into the Oligocene, but not without losses. Many of the smaller generalised forms perished at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, with Suebihadros of Early Oligocene Germany being among the last of these. This animal measured 4m in length and appears to have been a browser of relatively soft vegetation. Later Oligocene Orthomerids show a steady increase in size, seemingly in response to new competition arriving from Asia. By the end of the period, only a single genus remained: the large 10m high browser Carvalhosaurus from Spain and Portugal.Related content
Comments: 6
Haxorus54 [2020-10-15 12:48:17 +0000 UTC]
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OviraptorFan [2020-07-09 01:33:47 +0000 UTC]
Ah yes, the last of the “Orthomeriines”. Once the generalists of a lineage die out, your who family is likely to go into a downward spiral towards destruction.
It’s also a bittersweet tale on how non-hadrosaur hadrosaurmorphs stood the test of time against obstacle after obstacle, only to finally lose their battle against natural selection.........with one minor exception..(*insert wink here*)
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OviraptorFan In reply to OviraptorFan [2020-07-09 01:49:30 +0000 UTC]
Also, I can’t help but point out the comb on their heads, it looks so goofy but also believable!
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DrPolaris In reply to OviraptorFan [2020-07-09 02:31:54 +0000 UTC]
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OviraptorFan In reply to DrPolaris [2020-07-09 02:33:22 +0000 UTC]
I thought so
(I hope that wasn’t the only part you read)
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DrPolaris In reply to OviraptorFan [2020-07-09 02:36:24 +0000 UTC]
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