Editing 1211: Birds and Dinosaurs
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | {{w|Bird}}s are commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|Late Jurassic|150 million years ago}} out of small {{w|theropod}} dinosaurs, birds | + | {{w|Bird}}s are commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|Late Jurassic|150 million years ago}} out of small {{w|theropod}} dinosaurs, birds are indeed the last representatives of the {{w|Archosauria|dinosaur clade}}. (This premise appeared also in comic [[867]].) |
− | This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which shows that ''{{w|Tyrannosaurus rex}}'' is | + | This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which shows that ''{{w|Tyrannosaurus rex}}'' is closer related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to ''{{w|Stegosaurus}}''. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but ''T. rex'' also lived around 80 million years ''after'' ''Stegosaurus''. (In popular culture, the concurrence of both species is a widespread error.) ''T. rex'' is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of physiognomy. |
− | The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey (specifically, the {{w| | + | The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey (specifically, the {{w|Peregrine Falcon}}) is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive. |
− | The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znxFrgql5dc famous scene] from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series ''{{w | + | The line "This is a good world." could also possibly refer to a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znxFrgql5dc famous scene] from the {{w|Serenity (Firefly episode)|pilot episode}} of the television series ''{{w|Firefly}}'' featuring two plastic dinosaurs in a somewhat philosophic dialogue. Randall is known to be a {{w|Browncoat}}, i.e., a fan of the series. |
− | The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic | + | The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic [http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics] drawn by Ryan North, who stands 6" 6' (198 cm) tall. The title text of the May 13th Dinosaur Comics also refers to Randall and XKCD. |
− | |||
− | |||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
Line 25: | Line 23: | ||
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs. | :Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs. | ||
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco peregrinus''. | :Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco peregrinus''. | ||
− | :[A picture of two birds is shown | + | :[A picture of two birds is shown.] |
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws. | :It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws. | ||
:[In red:] This is a good world. | :[In red:] This is a good world. | ||
Line 32: | Line 30: | ||
[[Category:Comics with color]] | [[Category:Comics with color]] | ||
[[Category:Charts]] | [[Category:Charts]] | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− |