Dinosaur
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
| Dinosaur |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Order Ornithischia |
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Suborder: Thyreophora - (armored dinosaurs)
Suborder: Ornithopoda - (Bird footed)
Suborder: Marginocephalia
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| Order Saurischia |
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Suborder Sauropodomorpha
Suborder Theropoda |
Dinosaurs (Greek: δεινόσαυρος, deinosauros) are a group of large extinct animals classified as reptiles. The name dinosaur comes from the Greek deinos (terrible) and sauros (lizard). The word now used to define these terrible lizards was first coined by Sir Richard Owen, a creationist. According to the traditional paleontological interpretations of Earth's history, the dinosaurs are believed to have dominated the ecosystem for more than 100 million years. It is furthermore believed that they went extinct about 65 million years ago, about 55 million years before the first humans appeared on Earth.
However, most creationists believe that dinosaurs coexisted with mankind on Earth and lived recently. Biblical support for this perspectives is drawn from the Genesis 1 where it states that all animals were created on the sixth day of creation along with humans. It is furthermore presumed they were still alive at the time of the global flood and taken on board Noah's ark. Evidence to support this perspective includes:
- The Bible specifically states that a breeding pair of every kind of animal came to the ark.
- The fossil record is filled with the corpses of dinosaurs that were buried during the deluge.
- The abundant physical evidence of recent existence of dinosaurs.
It should be noted that although the Biblical description of Noah's ark states it as large enough to host even the largest known specimens of dinosaurs, it is logical that younger / smaller varieties were taken aboard. Reptiles are the only terrestrial vertebrate that continuously grows as long as they live. Mammals on the other hand, have an adolescent period following which there is no further growth. Therefore, it is arguable that many of these "terrible lizards" were simply much older than modern varieties.
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Anatomy
Dinosaurs are a group of ancient reptiles that had a set of particular skeletal features. The hips, hind legs, and ankles were specialized and allowed the legs to move directly under the body, rather than extending out from the side of the body as in modern lizards. This arrangement enabled dinosaurs to bring their knees and ankles directly below their hips and provided the necessary attachments for very strong leg muscles. Dinosaur skeletons were well designed for supporting a large body, for standing erect (upright), and for running. The front legs were adapted for grasping prey, for supporting weight, or for walking and running. The skulls of dinosaurs were designed for maximum strength, for minimum weight, and (in some cases) for grasping, holding, or tearing at prey. These skeletal features distinguish dinosaurs from other ancient reptiles such as Dimetrodon, the plesiosaurs, and pterosaurs. Fossil mammals, like mammoths and "saber-toothed tigers" (e.g., Smilodon), are also often incorrectly called dinosaurs.[1]
Dinosaur classification
- Main Article: Dinosaur classification
Dinosaurs are divided into two orders, the Saurischia and the Ornithischia, on the basis of their hip structure. Saurischia (from the Greek meaning "lizard hip") include all the theropods (bipedal carnivores) and sauropods (long-necked herbivores). Ornithischia (from the Greek meaning "bird-hip") is the other dinosauria order, most of which were quadrupedal herbivores.
Dinosaurs and creationism
- Main Article: Recent dinosaur
There is much evidence that dinosaurs existed very recently and coexisted with mankind. Prehistoric cave paintings and carvings have been found illustrating first-hand knowledge of these creatures by early humans.[1][2][3] Dinosaur tracks have been found alongside human tracks.[4] Dinosaur bones have also been found that are unfossilized with soft tissues still present indicating recent burial.
Dinosaurs in the Bible
- Main Article: Dinosaur in the Bible
There are graphic descriptions of animals in the Bible that may be dinosaur. Behemoth is described as an immense land animal, which is believed by some to be a Sauropod.[2] Leviathan, on the other hand, is portrayed as a terrifying fire-breathing sea monster that some have suggested may be a Kronosaurus. However, more recently the the SuperCroc (Sarcosuchus) has been put forth as the most likely candidate for the Leviathan.[3]
Recent history
- Main Article: Dragons
Tales of dragons, although dismissed as myth today, may recount sightings of dinosaurs. The World Book Encyclopedia states that: "The dragons of legend are strangely like actual creatures that have lived in the past. They are much like the great reptiles [dinosaurs] which inhabited the earth long before man is supposed to have appeared on earth. Dragons were generally evil and destructive. Every country had them in its mythology." [4]
Alive today
- Main Article: Reptiles
It should be considered probable that many modern reptiles are distant relatives of larger varieties found in the fossil record. Although many dinosaurs are indeed extinct, it is certain that if allowed to live as they did before the flood, modern reptiles might reach much larger sizes and closely resemble their ancestors found in the fossil record. Furthermore, numerous people have reported seeing dinosaur-sized creatures.[5]
Dinosaur extinction
- Main Article: Dinosaur extinction
Dinosaurs are believed to have gone extinct about 65 million years ago, about 55 million years before the first humans appeared on Earth due to a meteor impact. Creationist scientists, however, reject the "Great Impact Theory" that a meteor struck the earth and caused climatic changes which caused the extinction of dinosaurs and claim there are multiple problems evidentially with this theory.[6]
In addition, creationist Michael Matthews quotes columnist John Leo as stating that one of the most frequent science headlines is "New Theory of Dinosaur Extinction". Creationist Michael Matthews quotes John Leo as saying, "No matter how you think the tiresome giant reptiles died off, it always turns out that they probably perished some other way." Creationists assert that evolutionists are frequently coming out with a "New Theory of Dinosaur Extinction" theories and that their theories are laden with false assumptions.[7]
Most creationists believe that dinosaurs coexisted with mankind on Earth and lived recently. Creationist scientists believe that dinosaurs and man coexisted which they claim is based on a number of pieces of evidence. [8] In fact, creationist theories regarding dinosaur extinction include this most relentless causes of animal extinction - mankind. Humans have a natural instinct to kill any animal that possesses a threatening imposition. Historically, reptiles of any significant size have been automatically and immediately killed when in the proximity of human habitats. Large reptiles the size of dinosaur would certainly be perceived as a threat and hunted-down by humans possessing hunting capabilities. However, historical accounts of dinosaur-sized animals are being dismissed as mythological because these animals are assumed to have gone extinct millions of years ago. We use "Dinosaur" in reference to a group of large reptilian-like animals previously labeled "dragon". Perhaps dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus survived the flood, but could not survive mankind.[9]
Dinosaur evolution
- Main article: Feathered dinosaur
It is generally theorized that birds are modern descendants of ancient reptiles. Many would in fact say that dinosaurs didn't really go extinct, they simply evolved into birds. Creationist scientists contend this assertion stating the theory lacks any credible scientific support. [5][6] The absence of supporting evidence is seemingly supported by the online World Book Encyclopedia which states: "No fossil of any such birdlike reptile has yet been found." [7]. Creationist scientists Dr. Jonathan Sarfati wrote regarding dinosaurs being descendants of bird the following:
| “ | The same logic applies to the dinosaur-bird debate. It is perfectly in order for creationists to cite Feduccia’s devastating criticism against the idea that birds evolved ‘ground up’ from running dinosaurs (the cursorial theory). But the dino-to-bird advocates counter with equally powerful arguments against Feduccia’s ‘trees-down’ (arboreal) theory. The evidence indicates that the critics are both right — birds did not evolve either from running dinos or from tree-living mini-crocodiles. In fact, birds did not evolve from non-birds at all! | ” |
Even Ernst Mayr, who some would hail as a father of modern evolution biology, stated the following regarding the origin of the feather in 1942: "It must be admitted, however, that it is a considerable strain on one’s credulity to assume that finely balanced systems such as certain sense organs (the eye of vertebrates, or the bird’s feather) could be improved by random mutations." [9]
The Scientific American makes a similar admission in their March 2003 issue [10][11]:
| “ | Of all the body coverings nature has designed, feathers are the most various and the most mysterious...The origin of feathers is a specific instance of the much more general question of the origin of evolutionary novelties--structures that have no clear antecedents in ancestral animals and no clear related structures (homologues) in contemporary relatives. Although evolutionary theory provides a robust explanation for the appearance of minor variations in the size and shape of creatures and their component parts, it does not yet give as much guidance for understanding the emergence of entirely new structures, including digits, limbs, eyes and feathers. | ” |
Most evolutionary scientists believe that dinosaurs evolved from a dinosaurmorph population who was quickly replaced by the more evolved “terrible lizards”. However, the evidence shows , assuming an old earth, that they coexisted for some 20 million years. This clearly blurs evolutionary time scale and is consistent this Flood geology. (Irmis, Nesbit, Padian et al; 2007)
News
- Dung Reveals Dinosaurs Ate Grass LiveScience. November 17, 2005.
- T. Rex Soft Tissue Found Preserved A Tyrannosaurus rex fossil has yielded what appear to be the only preserved soft tissues ever recovered from a dinosaur. National Geographic News March 24, 2005
- Soft-Tissue Vessels and Cellular Preservation in Tyrannosaurus rex by Mary H. Schweitzer, Jennifer L. Wittmeyer, John R. Horner, Jan K. Toporski. Science Vol. 307. no. 5717, pp. 1952 - 1955. March 25, 2005.
- Dinosaur Fossil Found in Mammal's Stomach Scientists have identified the fossilized remains of a tiny dinosaur in the stomach of a mammal. January 12, 2005
- Scientists discover 66-million-year-old dinosaur with a heart In 1993, researchers discovered a Thescelosaurus specimen with a fossilized heart. According to paleontologist Dale Russell of North Carolina State University, the find challenged some of the most fundamental beliefs on how and when dinosaurs evolved. April 19, 2000
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References
- ↑ Are all fossil animals dinosaurs?by the U.S. Geological Survey.
- ↑ Could Behemoth have been a dinosaur? by Allan K. Steel. Journal of Creation 15(2):42–45. August 2001.
- ↑ A new candidate for Leviathan? by Peter Booker. Journal of Creation. 19(2) 2005. 14-16.
- ↑ What about the Dinosaurs? by Dr. Walt Brown. In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood, 8th Edition (2008)
- ↑ Are dinosaurs alive today? by Robert Doolan. Creation 15(4):12–15. September 1993.
- ↑ Did a meteor wipe out the dinosaurs? What about the iridium layer? by Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D. (2001)
- ↑ Dinosaur demise theory, version #451 by Michael Matthews, AiG-US. November, 15 2002.
- ↑ Get Answers: Dinosaurs by Answers in Genesis.
- ↑ Dinosaurs and dragons: stamping on the legends by Russell Grigg. Creation 7(3):18–19. June 1985
External links
Creationist
- Dinosaurs and dragons: stamping on the legends by Russell Grigg. Creation 7(3):18–19. June 1985
- The extinction of the dinosaurs by Michael Oard 1997. Journal of Creation 11(2):137–154.
- Dinosaur Questions and Answers
- Dinosaur by Conservapedia
- Dinosaurs Alongside Humans
- Multiple Dinosaurs Reclassified as One Species Creation-Evolution Headlines
Secular
- Photo Gallery by Dinosaur National Monument
- Irmis, Nesbit, Padian et al, “A Late Triassic Dinosauromorph Assemblage from New Mexico and the Rise of Dinosaurs,” Science, 20 July 2007: Vol. 317. no. 5836, pp. 358-361, DOI: 10.1126/science.1143325.
Gallery
 Replica dinosaur eggs |
 Dinosaur tracks - Moenkopi, AZ |
 Ornithischia Pelvis |
 Saurischia Pelvis |
 Cabazon Dinosaurs - Cabazon, CA |
See Also
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