Edmontosaurus gets a crest.

[Yutyrannus]

This sounds very exciting. I love hadrosaurs, but I've been irked, artistically, when many reconstructions follow the bone so precisely for head ornamentation. With such a variety of bony ornaments, there should have been something going on that we can't see, for both crested and crestless hadrosaurs. That's why any news of fossil evidence is great to see. Now I want to make an Edmontosaurus model, as if that list isn't too long already.

Oh, that's a lovely Tsintaosaurus. The fuller crest feels right for that species.

Oh, that's not mine. That was drawn by forum member Gryphoceratops. I have posted an illustration of the new Edmontosaurus on page 1, though.

[A.Garcia]

Oh, that's not mine. That was drawn by forum member Gryphoceratops. I have posted an illustration of the new Edmontosaurus on page 1, though.

Yes, I guess I've seen some of his other paintings, too. Your Edmontosaurus is fun to see- it looks like that individual could knock over a Tyrannosaurus!

[Yutyrannus]

Oh, that's not mine. That was drawn by forum member Gryphoceratops. I have posted an illustration of the new Edmontosaurus on page 1, though.

Yes, I guess I've seen some of his other paintings, too. Your Edmontosaurus is fun to see- it looks like that individual could knock over a Tyrannosaurus!

Yeah, its because he's a polar dinosaur with a lot of blubber to keep warm .

[alexeratops]

What happened to Dinocheirus?

[Takama]

What happened to Dinocheirus?

Long story short, it got a Hump or Sail like Concavenator

[ZoPteryx]

Very cool discovery!  Opens up a world of possibilities....okay, those possibilities were already open, but at least this find makes them more likely.

[wings]

I dont remember hearing about that at all. Is the Tsintao crest made entirely of bone then?

Haven't been back for a while; but this is the article on the Tsintaosaurus http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0082268.

[DinoLord]

Keep in mind this find only applies to one species of Edmontosaurus. It's still possible the others were bald.

[tanystropheus]

What happened to Dinocheirus?

Long story short, it got a Hump or Sail like Concavenator

What are they doing?

[tyrantqueen]

What are they doing?

Having a dust bath, like a sparrow

[tanystropheus]

What are they doing?

Having a dust bath, like a sparrow

Okay, I guess that makes sense.

[ZoPteryx]

Not so fast!!!

This artist makes a very valid point:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Edmontosaurus-annectens-and-the-Crest-That-Wasn-t-422326269

...in this version of the story,  all of our Safari Edmontosaurus toys get to stay accurate!

[tyrantqueen]

Would the females have had a crest? If not, then Safari's Edmontosaurus works pretty well in that regard.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Interesting. I'm not sure if we have any evidence for crest size based on sex do we?

[ZoPteryx]

Interesting. I'm not sure if we have any evidence for crest size based on sex do we?

Amongst dinosaurs, only Parasaurolophus comes to mind, but I don't know if the gender of short-crested individuals has ever been determined.  In pterosaurs, it is generally accepted that Pteranodontids females were virtually crestless, in addition to being smaller.  Conversely, the same does not appear true in birds; while males are often more flamboyant than females, I can't think of any crested species in which the females lack a crest.

[Yutyrannus]

Not so fast!!!

This artist makes a very valid point:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Edmontosaurus-annectens-and-the-Crest-That-Wasn-t-422326269

...in this version of the story,  all of our Safari Edmontosaurus toys get to stay accurate!

I don't agree with this but I do think it is illogical to assume that E. annectens had this comb, as it is only preserves on E. regalis and we know that species within a genus can differ greatly .

[Balaur]

Not so fast!!!

This artist makes a very valid point:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/Edmontosaurus-annectens-and-the-Crest-That-Wasn-t-422326269

...in this version of the story,  all of our Safari Edmontosaurus toys get to stay accurate!

I don't agree with this but I do think it is illogical to assume that E. annectens had this comb, as it is only preserves on E. regalis and we know that species within a genus can differ greatly .

Me too. For now, I will view  E. annectens as crestless, and E. regalis as crestful.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Interesting. I'm not sure if we have any evidence for crest size based on sex do we?

Amongst dinosaurs, only Parasaurolophus comes to mind, but I don't know if the gender of short-crested individuals has ever been determined.  In pterosaurs, it is generally accepted that Pteranodontids females were virtually crestless, in addition to being smaller.  Conversely, the same does not appear true in birds; while males are often more flamboyant than females, I can't think of any crested species in which the females lack a crest.

That species is what first came to my mind, but I've never heard anything as what gender they are..actually that goes for any dinosaur really. Last I read we still aren't sure what differentiates the sexes among them based on fossil evidence.   

Isn't it still accepted that pterosaurs crests could have aided in flight ? That would be an odd adaptation if the females didn't have one at all right ?

[Simon]

As far as Pterosaur crests go, I can't imagine that they were not used in flight.  Given the intricacies of flight, having a large surface like a crest would either be useful or detrimental in flight - you can't hide them from the wind.  If detrimental, it would not have been selected for genetically. 

Given that it was located on top of the maneuverable, swiveling head, a crest was in an optimal location to be used as a control surface.  I would think that it would have improved maneuverability in flight...

...just a laymen's 2 cents' worth ...

[tyrantqueen]

As far as Pterosaur crests go, I can't imagine that they were not used in flight.  Given the intricacies of flight, having a large surface like a crest would either be useful or detrimental in flight - you can't hide them from the wind. If detrimental, it would not have been selected for genetically. 

Given that it was located on top of the maneuverable, swiveling head, a crest was in an optimal location to be used as a control surface.  I would think that it would have improved maneuverability in flight...

...just a laymen's 2 cents' worth ...

Not necessarily. Hornbills evolved a big crest (casque) and a brightly coloured beak for sexual attraction, even though it intrudes with their vision field.