Comments on: Did Dinosaurs Roar? http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/2009/07/13/did-dinosaurs-roar/ Where Paleontology Meets Pop Culture Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:16:26 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Neal W. Welsh, ret., zoologist http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/2009/07/13/did-dinosaurs-roar/comment-page-1/#comment-842 Neal W. Welsh, ret., zoologist Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:27:14 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/?p=1608#comment-842 Given that birds are very probably, some paleozoologists say surely, descendants of at least one branch of dinosaurians; and that all birds we know have vocal capabilities courtesy of their syrinxes; that many birds have very sophisticated syrinxes and are producers of an extremely wide array of calls, alarms and songs, it is inconceivable that many dinosaurians would not have an array of sounds themselves. Maybe these didn't approach the complexity of modern birds but surely there must have been a respectable range of vocalizations among many genera. (edited for a letter omission) N.W.W. Given that birds are very probably, some paleozoologists say surely, descendants of at least one branch of dinosaurians; and that all birds we know have vocal capabilities courtesy of their syrinxes; that many birds have very sophisticated syrinxes and are producers of an extremely wide array of calls, alarms and songs, it is inconceivable that many dinosaurians would not have an array of sounds themselves. Maybe these didn’t approach the complexity of modern birds but surely there must have been a respectable range of vocalizations among many genera.

(edited for a letter omission) N.W.W.

]]> By: JAG http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/2009/07/13/did-dinosaurs-roar/comment-page-1/#comment-837 JAG Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:06 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/?p=1608#comment-837 All that is needed is a tube long enough, breath and some musculature coordinated enough to create intonations. I attended a Vertebrate paleontology session a few years back and one individual demonstrated a long smooth "bore" tube that he was able to get some sounds to produce. I suggested he try a corrugated tube, like those available for drainage systems (more resembling the trachea of many animals including birds). This corrugated tube could provide more eddy-producing surfaces that would encourage greater intonation. Constricting the tube diameter and length would produce greater ranges of sounds like valves on a trumpet, not only providing basic "naturals" but "sharps" and "flats", broadening the intonation range of a vocal tube. Relaxing and tightening the tube could allow more fluttering sounds, like roars growls and such. The main issue would be the interface between "brain" and vocalizing organs. Birds do it. Why not? Imagine the vocal resonances of an Apatasaurus's or Diplodocus's trachea. All that is needed is a tube long enough, breath and some musculature coordinated enough to create intonations. I attended a Vertebrate paleontology session a few years back and one individual demonstrated a long smooth “bore” tube that he was able to get some sounds to produce. I suggested he try a corrugated tube, like those available for drainage systems (more resembling the trachea of many animals including birds). This corrugated tube could provide more eddy-producing surfaces that would encourage greater intonation. Constricting the tube diameter and length would produce greater ranges of sounds like valves on a trumpet, not only providing basic “naturals” but “sharps” and “flats”, broadening the intonation range of a vocal tube. Relaxing and tightening the tube could allow more fluttering sounds, like roars growls and such. The main issue would be the interface between “brain” and vocalizing organs. Birds do it. Why not? Imagine the vocal resonances of an Apatasaurus’s or Diplodocus’s trachea.

]]> By: Tor Bertin http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/2009/07/13/did-dinosaurs-roar/comment-page-1/#comment-788 Tor Bertin Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:38:47 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/?p=1608#comment-788 I'd actually be very surprised if some sort of vocalization structure didn't evolve in dinosaurs as well--it just seems far too useful of an evolutionary adaptation to do without for so many millions of years. I’d actually be very surprised if some sort of vocalization structure didn’t evolve in dinosaurs as well–it just seems far too useful of an evolutionary adaptation to do without for so many millions of years.

]]> By: Michael Stearns http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/2009/07/13/did-dinosaurs-roar/comment-page-1/#comment-786 Michael Stearns Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:49:04 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/?p=1608#comment-786 Can't vocalize eh? Just like a little so-called DINOSAURS IN SPACE?! Clearly support for Dinosaurs in Space is greater than ever! Can’t vocalize eh? Just like a little so-called DINOSAURS IN SPACE?! Clearly support for Dinosaurs in Space is greater than ever!

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