Duck-billed Dinosaur, Edmontosaurus Regalis, Had Fleshy Head Comb Like A Rooster's Crest

Reconstruction of duckbilled dinosaur, Edmontosaurus regalis.
Credit: Bell, Fanti, Currie, Arbour, Current Biology

Paleontologists discovered a rare mummified specimen of the duck-billed dinosaur, Edmontosaurus regalis. The specimen showed that the dinosaur had a fleshy comb on its head similar to a rooster's crest.

The comb is made of soft tissue. Soft tissues rarely fossilize because they do not contain any bone in them. Because of this, these features are unknown to exist in many extinct species such as dinosaurs. Scientists are not sure what the purpose of the appendage is, but they theorize it is for social signaling or sexual selection.

Edmontosaurus Regalis is part of a genus of dinosaurs called hadrosaurids or duck-billed dinosaurs. Edmontosaurus lived during the Cretaceous Period 73 million years ago and are about 40 feet long and 13 feet high at the hips. These dinosaurs weigh around 4 tons. One prominent feature of the dinosaur is that its mouth has around 1300 teeth that is constantly replaced just like a shark.

The discovery of the comb suggests that it is possible that other species of dinosaurs may have similar features.

Finding Out The Reason Why Roosters Crow

Japanese researchers are studying the reasons why roosters crow. They believe that by trying to explain why cocks crow would also help in understanding other animal behavior such as the purring of a cat or the barking of a dog.

For most, a cock's crow symbolizes the breaking of a new dawn. Like an alarm clock, it symbolizes the early morning. Although roosters can crow at any time of the day, it is during daybreak and dusk that they become more active in crowing.

There are many reasons that come up as to why roosters crow. Some of these are:

1. To announce the breaking of a new dawn

2. To show dominance among the other roosters around

3. A muscle reflex after waking up similar to a yawn

Researchers in Japan are studying whether this action is based on environmental factors or is it because of a biological or psychological trigger.