A New Look for our Prehistoric Friends

The creatures that dominated millions of years before the dawn of man still surround us. Some may think the closest relatives to these prehistoric beasts are the scaly reptiles that lurk in swamps and marshes. However, the closest relatives to dinosaurs are the singing birds and rodents that live among us. 

Archeologists have recently discovered that these goliath lizards are more closely related to the furry and feathered critters that live alongside us. Small rodents like mice, possums, and prairie dogs have since evolved from the giants that once conquered the planet. New research is leading scientists to believe that very few dinosaurs were covered in scales and instead had a thick leathery hide that may have been coated in coarse feathers. These new discoveries have thrown the prehistoric community into a frenzy, recreating dinosaurs from previously imagined designs. For instance, old creations of raptors had the sleek-toned bipedal carnivore sporting two small arms on its tiny frame. Now, however, new visions show a short feathered dinosaur with minuscule wings at its sides attached with vicious claws. These recreations align more closely with chickens or ostriches, which just happen to be some of the closest related animals to the infamous raptor. Evolution has caused these animals to shrink in size and become a shell of their former selves. The most bizarre example of this is the Megatherium or Giant Sloth. Fossils suggest this behemoth was anywhere from 8 to 12 feet tall when standing upright. Their bodies were perfectly crafted to be vicious creatures but generally, they only resorted to hunting as a last resort. Most of the time they were foragers and used their long sharp claws to clear shrubs and foliage while searching for berries or fruit. These creatures would later evolve into the common day sloth. While considerably smaller the sloth still maintains the signature claws and has a similar diet of leaves and greens.

While we are beginning to understand out ancient ancestors, their remains still raise more questions than they answer. However, with new technology and brighter minds entering the field every day, it may not be too long before we have a Jurrasic Park of our own.