In comparison, Falcarius utahensis didn't look like much a of match for its larger Cretaceous-era dinosaur rival Majungatholus, which stretched to 25 feet long.
Claws at the ready, skeleton models of the two dinosaurs warily eyed each other Wednesday at the Utah Museum of Natural History in Salt Lake City. This marks the world debut of Falcarius, a dinosaur from Utah, and the first appearance of Majungatholus in the Western Hemisphere.
In reality, the two dinosaurs never crossed paths. Falcarius roamed Utah in the early Cretaceous period, about 125 million years ago, while Majungatholus terrorized Madagascar in the late Cretaceous era, about 70 million years ago.
"It's
Children with the Avenues preschool Child Time get a hands-on experience with dinosaur bones. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune)
fun to bring them together," said Becky Menlove, who is in charge of museum exhibits.
The two creatures do share a bond - Scott Sampson, the museum's curator of paleontology. He helped discover and study both dinosaurs.
Falcarius, which comes out of the southern Utah desert, is believed to be a missing link between earlier meat-eaters and later vegetarian dinosaurs in one family. Researchers, led by state paleontologist James Kirkland, announced the details of the new dinosaur in May.
Majungatholus, which is on extended loan before it moves to its permanent home in Stony Brook, N.Y., is a predatory dinosaur found on Madagascar.
The real fossils of both dinosaurs are still being researched.
Paleoform, a Provo company, created the skeleton cast for Majungatholus. The company ran into problems when the skull they wanted to use was 30 percent bigger than the rest of the body bones they studied, said Tyler Pinegar, who works for the Provo firm.
After making casts of various bones, the dinosaur builders filled the impression with a material called hydrospan. Paleoform workers left the material in water for two weeks, which expanded the pieces by 30 percent.
Other bones had to be carved out of a hard foam using bones from related dinosaurs as models, Pinegar said.
Gaston, Studio, of Grand Junction, Colo., designed the Falcarius skeleton cast.
On display near the 12-foot-long Falcarius is a small sculpture of the creature, which features muscles and skin. Salt Lake City sculptor/illustrator John Moore created the lifelike rendition.
After seeing the skeleton, he cast a glance back at his creation with a critical artist's eye.
"I wish at the time I'd had the skeleton," Moore said. "It would look different."
When he began the project, he only had pictures of a few bones upon which to base his sculpture. Moore said the neck should be longer and the pelvis should be a different shape.
"Nobody can exactly say it's wrong," Moore said, "because no one has ever seen it."
glavine@sltrib.com
Heading into dinosaur territory
l What: Two new cast skeletons of dinosaurs, Falcarius utahensis and Majungatholus, are on display at the Utah Museum of Natural History.
l Where: University of Utah campus, 1390 E. Presidents Circle.
l When: Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
l More information: Admission is $6.50 for adults; $3.50 for seniors and kids 3-12, and free for children under 3, museum members and those affiliated with the University of Utah.
More information is available on the Web at http://www.umnh.utah.edu or call 801-581-6927.
By Greg Lavine
The Salt Lake Tribune
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Crazy over euphorbia
The flower-mad people of Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City have shifted their romance with flowers from bromeliad to euphorbia. And the mad fever is catching on. A house is poorer without euphorbia milii that its household equates with good fortune.
Remember the fortune plant craze? Like other fads, floral or otherwise, the obsession with euphorbia could also wane. But for the moment, it is the current passion of the province's flower-lovers. I confess I am guilty.
But imagine a rainbow in a garden or a rainbow in a petal. It would be joy in the heart! Colorful euphorbia plant flowers lay before my eyes every time I walk by in our garden. And I think of the artist responsible for mixing these colors to produce happy thoughts to the beholder.
God made them so, but humans should do the cultivation.
History
In her research in the Internet, Professor Joy G. Perez, head of the mass communication department of Negros Oriental State University (Norsu), discovered there are over 2,000 species of euphorbias in the world! They range from annual weeds to trees. They all have latex and a unique flower structure. A significant percentage is succulent.
The euphorbia was named after a Greek surgeon named Euphorbus hundreds of years ago. He was a physician of Juba II who was the Romanized king of a north African kingdom, and was supposed to have used the plant's milky latex as an ingredient for his potions.
A warning, though, says Professor Perez. Euphorbia Milii is poisonous, particularly the juice from its woody stems.
Some euphorbia species are called 'Crown of Thorns' or 'Christ plant'. A research is yet to be made to trace how the plant found its way to Jerusalem at the time of Jesus from Madagascar, an African island in the Indian ocean.
Euphorbia is a dense shrub with a centimeter-long sharp thorn. It has clusters of leaves produced near the growing tips of stems that last for several months before dropping off. Old leaves are not replaced. New ones appear only on new terminal growth.
The flowers are tiny, each surrounded by a pair of one-centimeter long, kidney-shaped bright red or white, yellow, orange, pink bracts that look like petals. Clusters of these paired flower-like bracts appear on stalks at the tip of the spiny stems.
Flowering and growing can be continuous if plants get exceptionally good light because they grow best in sunny location. The cactus family has many plant variations of euphorbia.
In the 70's several euphorbia species were introduced into cultivation by Stephen Jankalski. Later, cross-breeds were made.
In the 1990's, hybrids were produced by Somona in Germany. Somona hybrids are self-branching with deep-green, soft, large, thick leaves. They are free flowering with colors ranging from cream or beige and various shades from pink to red.
Luck plant
For those who believe in luck, good news! Known as the 'luck plant', it was named poysean by Chinese immigrants in Thailand.
'Poy' means light and 'sean' means saints after the eight saints of Chinese mythology each representing a different face: health, bravery, riches, beauty, art, intelligence, poetry, and the ability to overcome evil.
The old euphorbia milii hybrid typically has light flowers in each bunch, hence the local name 'ocho-ocho' or 'octopus'.
Thais believe that keeping poysean outside the house, in the balcony, or terrace brings these positive forces to the house and owner. Thus, poysean is an old Thai-Chinese name for 'Crown of Thorns' and a new one for the large flowered Thai hybrid.
The euphorbia milii fever hit Dumaguete City two years ago when large flowered hybrids appeared.
Until when the fever will subside, it is anyone's guess. But for now, it is fun to cultivate these plants. Its beauty brings not only happiness, but also...extra income.
Source: 'Notes', a newsletter of the College of Arts and Sciences, Negros Oriental State University, May 2005.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Crazy over euphorbia
By Rodorica Tolomia
IT IS confirmed.
Remember the fortune plant craze? Like other fads, floral or otherwise, the obsession with euphorbia could also wane. But for the moment, it is the current passion of the province's flower-lovers. I confess I am guilty.
But imagine a rainbow in a garden or a rainbow in a petal. It would be joy in the heart! Colorful euphorbia plant flowers lay before my eyes every time I walk by in our garden. And I think of the artist responsible for mixing these colors to produce happy thoughts to the beholder.
God made them so, but humans should do the cultivation.
History
In her research in the Internet, Professor Joy G. Perez, head of the mass communication department of Negros Oriental State University (Norsu), discovered there are over 2,000 species of euphorbias in the world! They range from annual weeds to trees. They all have latex and a unique flower structure. A significant percentage is succulent.
The euphorbia was named after a Greek surgeon named Euphorbus hundreds of years ago. He was a physician of Juba II who was the Romanized king of a north African kingdom, and was supposed to have used the plant's milky latex as an ingredient for his potions.
A warning, though, says Professor Perez. Euphorbia Milii is poisonous, particularly the juice from its woody stems.
Some euphorbia species are called 'Crown of Thorns' or 'Christ plant'. A research is yet to be made to trace how the plant found its way to Jerusalem at the time of Jesus from Madagascar, an African island in the Indian ocean.
Euphorbia is a dense shrub with a centimeter-long sharp thorn. It has clusters of leaves produced near the growing tips of stems that last for several months before dropping off. Old leaves are not replaced. New ones appear only on new terminal growth.
The flowers are tiny, each surrounded by a pair of one-centimeter long, kidney-shaped bright red or white, yellow, orange, pink bracts that look like petals. Clusters of these paired flower-like bracts appear on stalks at the tip of the spiny stems.
Flowering and growing can be continuous if plants get exceptionally good light because they grow best in sunny location. The cactus family has many plant variations of euphorbia.
In the 70's several euphorbia species were introduced into cultivation by Stephen Jankalski. Later, cross-breeds were made.
In the 1990's, hybrids were produced by Somona in Germany. Somona hybrids are self-branching with deep-green, soft, large, thick leaves. They are free flowering with colors ranging from cream or beige and various shades from pink to red.
Luck plant
For those who believe in luck, good news! Known as the 'luck plant', it was named poysean by Chinese immigrants in Thailand.
'Poy' means light and 'sean' means saints after the eight saints of Chinese mythology each representing a different face: health, bravery, riches, beauty, art, intelligence, poetry, and the ability to overcome evil.
The old euphorbia milii hybrid typically has light flowers in each bunch, hence the local name 'ocho-ocho' or 'octopus'.
Thais believe that keeping poysean outside the house, in the balcony, or terrace brings these positive forces to the house and owner. Thus, poysean is an old Thai-Chinese name for 'Crown of Thorns' and a new one for the large flowered Thai hybrid.
The euphorbia milii fever hit Dumaguete City two years ago when large flowered hybrids appeared.
Until when the fever will subside, it is anyone's guess. But for now, it is fun to cultivate these plants. Its beauty brings not only happiness, but also...extra income.
Source: 'Notes', a newsletter of the College of Arts and Sciences, Negros Oriental State University, May 2005.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Crazy over euphorbia
By Rodorica Tolomia
IT IS confirmed.
Friday, June 03, 2005
2005 Atlantic Tropical Season Kicks Off
The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season was very busy and ended with fifteen tropical or subtropical storms by the time the season came to a close. Nine of the storms became hurricanes with six becoming major hurricanes, category three or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
Looking ahead, the 2005 season is forecast to be very active, as well. Dr. Bill Gray has released an updated forecast calling for 15 named storms. His forecast also predicts that 8 of the 15 named storms will become hurricanes with 4 of the 8 expected to become major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale).
Currently, the Atlantic Basin and Eastern Pacific are quiet and tropical development is not likely in the near future. The first tropical storm of the Atlantic season will receive the name Arlene, while the next storm in the Eastern Pacific will be given the name Beatriz.
In the Western Pacific there is Typhoon "Nesat". Nesat is currently over the open waters halfway between Guam and the Philippines. It is forecast to curve well to the east of the Philippines but intensify to 125 mph as it churns through the waters of the Western Pacific. The eastern facing beaches of the Philippines should prepare for very rough surf this weekend and early next week. After its recurve, Nesat will pass close to the east coast of Japan as a minimal typhoon with a big concern for waves, winds, and gusty rains to the east of Tokyo, Japan. You'll want to keep an eye on this system as it spins toward Japan in the next few days if you have friends there or plan to travel to the east coast of Japan.
6:28 a.m. ET ET Fri.,Jun.3,105
James Wilson, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Looking ahead, the 2005 season is forecast to be very active, as well. Dr. Bill Gray has released an updated forecast calling for 15 named storms. His forecast also predicts that 8 of the 15 named storms will become hurricanes with 4 of the 8 expected to become major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale).
Currently, the Atlantic Basin and Eastern Pacific are quiet and tropical development is not likely in the near future. The first tropical storm of the Atlantic season will receive the name Arlene, while the next storm in the Eastern Pacific will be given the name Beatriz.
In the Western Pacific there is Typhoon "Nesat". Nesat is currently over the open waters halfway between Guam and the Philippines. It is forecast to curve well to the east of the Philippines but intensify to 125 mph as it churns through the waters of the Western Pacific. The eastern facing beaches of the Philippines should prepare for very rough surf this weekend and early next week. After its recurve, Nesat will pass close to the east coast of Japan as a minimal typhoon with a big concern for waves, winds, and gusty rains to the east of Tokyo, Japan. You'll want to keep an eye on this system as it spins toward Japan in the next few days if you have friends there or plan to travel to the east coast of Japan.
6:28 a.m. ET ET Fri.,Jun.3,105
James Wilson, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)