As a kid in the 80s I learned that dinosaurs were likely endothermic and not ectothermic like previously thought. But recently I saw a debate in a comment section of another video where people were arguing about whether or not dinosaurs were reptiles. With a tiny bit of internet research I’ve seen dinosaurs classed either under reptilia as a whole or split between Ornithischia and Saurischia. If reptiles, how does that work with the warm vs cold blooded argument. I thought that the reptile classification was outdated. Am I wrong or is it more complicated?
Dinosaur taxonomy is always a complicated question haha. Technically both classifications are right. But the most relevant and important distinction between dinosaurs is the Sauriachian and Ornithischian classification as this splits dinosaurs based on the shape of their hips. They are also reptiles since they are related to Alligators/Crocodiles. But they evolved to be warm-blooded even though they were reptiles. We have evidence of this based on their growth rates being nearly identical to mammals (who are warm blooded), the evolution of feathers to keep them warm in colder parts of the world, and studies that show large dinosaurs developed gigantothermy (being so big that it becomes impossible to be cold-blooded). A lot of this has been found out in the 2000's up to now so it's very recent information!
As a kid in the 80s I learned that dinosaurs were likely endothermic and not ectothermic like previously thought. But recently I saw a debate in a comment section of another video where people were arguing about whether or not dinosaurs were reptiles. With a tiny bit of internet research I’ve seen dinosaurs classed either under reptilia as a whole or split between Ornithischia and Saurischia. If reptiles, how does that work with the warm vs cold blooded argument. I thought that the reptile classification was outdated. Am I wrong or is it more complicated?
Dinosaur taxonomy is always a complicated question haha. Technically both classifications are right. But the most relevant and important distinction between dinosaurs is the Sauriachian and Ornithischian classification as this splits dinosaurs based on the shape of their hips. They are also reptiles since they are related to Alligators/Crocodiles. But they evolved to be warm-blooded even though they were reptiles. We have evidence of this based on their growth rates being nearly identical to mammals (who are warm blooded), the evolution of feathers to keep them warm in colder parts of the world, and studies that show large dinosaurs developed gigantothermy (being so big that it becomes impossible to be cold-blooded). A lot of this has been found out in the 2000's up to now so it's very recent information!
Love the video! Cant wait for the next one!
Thank you!