Dinosaur

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Dinosaur
Scientific Classification
Order Ornithischia

Suborder: Thyreophora - (armored dinosaurs)

Suborder: Ornithopoda - (Bird footed)

Suborder: Marginocephalia

Order Saurischia

Suborder Sauropodomorpha

Infraorder Sauropoda

Suborder Theropoda

Infraorder Prosauropoda

Terrible lizards - the name dinosaur comes from the Greek deinos (terrible) and sauros (lizard). The word was first coined by Sir Richard Owen, a creationist. Dinosaurs are a group of large extinct animals classified as reptiles. According to the traditional paleontological interpretations of Earth's history, the dinosaurs are believed to have dominated the ecosystem for more than 100 million years. It is furthermore believed that they went extinct about 65 million years ago, about 55 million years before the first humans appeared on Earth.

However, most creationists believe that dinosaurs coexisted with mankind on Earth and lived recently. Biblical support for this perspectives is drawn from the Genesis 1 where it states that all animals were created on the sixth day of creation along with humans. It is furthermore presumed they were still alive at the time of the global flood and taken on board Noah's ark. Evidence to support this perspective includes:

  1. The Bible specifically states that a breeding pair of every kind of animal came to the ark.
  2. The fossil record is filled with the corpses of dinosaurs that were buried during the deluge.
  3. The abundant physical evidence of recent existence of dinosaurs.

It should be noted that although the Biblical description of Noah's ark states it as large enough to host even the largest known specimens of dinosaurs, it is logical that younger / smaller varieties were taken aboard. Reptiles are the only terrestrial vertebrate that continuously grows as long as they live. Mammals on the other hand, have an adolescent period following which there is no further growth. Therefore, it is arguable that many of these "terrible lizards" were simply much older than modern varieties.

Contents

Dinosaur classification

Main Article: Dinosaur classification

Dinosaurs are divided into two orders, the Saurischia and the Ornithischia, on the basis of their hip structure. Saurischia (from the Greek meaning "lizard hip") include all the theropods (bipedal carnivores) and sauropods (long-necked herbivores). Ornithischia (from the Greek meaning "bird-hip") is the other dinosauria order, most of which were quadrupedal herbivores.

Dinosaurs and creationism

Main Article: Recent dinosaur

There is much evidence that dinosaurs existed very recently and coexisted with mankind. Prehistoric cave paintings and carvings have been found illustrating first-hand knowledge of these creatures by early humans.[1][2][3] Dinosaur tracks have been found alongside human tracks.[4] Dinosaur bones have also been found that are unfossilized with soft tissues still present indicating recent burial.

Dinosaurs in the Bible

Main Article: Dinosaur in the Bible

There are graphic descriptions of animals in the Bible that may be dinosaur and a Plesiosaur respectively. Behemoth is described as an immense land animal, which is believed by some to be a Sauropod. Leviathan, on the other hand, is portrayed as a terrifying fire-breathing sea monster that may be a Kronosaurus.[5][6]

Recent history

Main Article: Dragons

Tales of dragons, although dismissed as myth today, may recount sightings of dinosaurs. The World Book Encyclopedia states that: "The dragons of legend are strangely like actual creatures that have lived in the past. They are much like the great reptiles [dinosaurs] which inhabited the earth long before man is supposed to have appeared on earth. Dragons were generally evil and destructive. Every country had them in its mythology." [7]

Alive today

Main Article: Sauropsida

It should be considered probable that many modern reptiles are distant relatives of larger varieties found in the fossil record. Although many dinosaurs are indeed extinct, it is certain that if allowed to live as they did before the flood, modern reptiles might reach much larger sizes and closely resemble their ancestors found in the fossil record. Furthermore, numerous people have reported seeing dinosaur-sized creatures.[8]

Dinosaur extinction

Main Article: Dinosaur extinction

Dinosaurs are believed to have gone extinct about 65 million years ago, about 55 million years before the first humans appeared on Earth due to a meteor impact. Creationist scientists, however, reject the "Great Impact Theory" that a meteor struck the earth and caused climatic changes which caused the extinction of dinosaurs and claim there are multiple problems evidentially with this theory. [9]

Portion of the Nile Mosaic of Palestrina showing humans hunting dinosaurs. Circa 100 BCE.
Portion of the Nile Mosaic of Palestrina showing humans hunting dinosaurs. Circa 100 BCE.

In addition, creationist Michael Matthews quotes columnist John Leo as stating that one of the most frequent science headlines is "New Theory of Dinosaur Extinction". Creationist Michael Matthews quotes John Leo as saying, "No matter how you think the tiresome giant reptiles died off, it always turns out that they probably perished some other way." [10] Creationists assert that evolutionists are frequently coming out with a "New Theory of Dinosaur Extinction" theories and that their theories are laden with false assumptions. [11]

Most creationists believe that dinosaurs coexisted with mankind on Earth and lived recently. Creationist scientists believe that dinosaurs and man coexisted which they claim is based on a number of pieces of evidence. [12] Creationist theories regarding dinosaur extinction include one of the most relentless causes of animal extinction - mankind.

Humans have a natural instinct to kill any animal that possesses a threatening imposition. Historically, reptiles of any significant size have been automatically and immediately killed when in the proximity of human habitats. Large reptiles the size of dinosaur would certainly be perceived as a threat and hunted-down by humans possessing hunting capabilities. However, historical accounts of dinosaur-sized animals are being dismissed as mythological because these animals are assumed to have gone extinct millions of years ago. We use "Dinosaur" in reference to a group of large reptilian-like animals previously labeled "dragon". Perhaps dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus survived the flood, but could not survive mankind. Nevertheless, even Tyrannosaurus extinction is not known for sure. [13]

Dinosaur evolution

Main article: Feathered dinosaur

It is generally theorized that birds are modern descendants of ancient reptiles. Many would in fact say that dinosaurs didn't really go extinct, they simply evolved into birds. Creationist scientists contend this assertion stating the theory lacks any credible scientific support. [14][15] The absence of supporting evidence is seemingly supported by the online World Book Encyclopedia which states: "No fossil of any such birdlike reptile has yet been found." [16]. Creationist scientists Dr. Jonathan Sarfati wrote regarding dinosaurs being descendants of bird the following:

“ The same logic applies to the dinosaur-bird debate. It is perfectly in order for creationists to cite Feduccia’s devastating criticism against the idea that birds evolved ‘ground up’ from running dinosaurs (the cursorial theory). But the dino-to-bird advocates counter with equally powerful arguments against Feduccia’s ‘trees-down’ (arboreal) theory. The evidence indicates that the critics are both right — birds did not evolve either from running dinos or from tree-living mini-crocodiles. In fact, birds did not evolve from non-birds at all!

[17]

”

Even Ernst Mayr, who some would hail as a father of modern evolution biology stated the following regarding the origin of the feather in 1942: "It must be admitted, however, that it is a considerable strain on one’s credulity to assume that finely balanced systems such as certain sense organs (the eye of vertebrates, or the bird’s feather) could be improved by random mutations." [18]

The Scientific American makes a similar admission in their March 2003 issue [19][20]:

“ Of all the body coverings nature has designed, feathers are the most various and the most mysterious...The origin of feathers is a specific instance of the much more general question of the origin of evolutionary novelties--structures that have no clear antecedents in ancestral animals and no clear related structures (homologues) in contemporary relatives. Although evolutionary theory provides a robust explanation for the appearance of minor variations in the size and shape of creatures and their component parts, it does not yet give as much guidance for understanding the emergence of entirely new structures, including digits, limbs, eyes and feathers. ”

News

These ancient animals are NOT dinosaurs! Plesiosaurs - Pterosaurs - Wooly Mammoths - Dimetrodon
These ancient animals are NOT dinosaurs! Plesiosaurs - Pterosaurs - Wooly Mammoths - Dimetrodon

Related References

Gallery

Replica dinosaur eggs

Dinosaur tracks - Moenkopi, AZ

Ornithischia Pelvis

Saurischia Pelvis

Cabazon Dinosaurs - Cabazon, CA


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See Also

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