With the help of technology and breakthroughs in the process of thinking about dinosaur evolution, paleontologists have been able to fairly accurately describe what these creatures would have actually looked and acted, even pinning them to a specific color. As discussed in class and explained in more detail in the Teded video presented in class, dinosaur fossils with feather imprints contain hollow nanostructures called melanosomes that can be detected under a powerful microscope. These leave behind decayed minerals that correspond to coloring pigments such as melanin and carotenoids. From these discoveries, paleontologists are able to accurately predict the pigmentation of many dinosaurs. But more than that, paleontologists have created a framework for determining what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur. The resounding answers and conclusions for specific identification are found in the evolutionary phylogenetic tree. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay There are general understandings and a few telltale signs that paleontologists use to determine whether a fossil belongs to a dinosaur or a dinosaur. belongs to other creatures, such as amphibians. These characteristics have changed dramatically over time, but one that remains constant throughout the archaeological discipline is how the hip bone is structured. According to California Berkely's Dinosaur Morphology page, it states that “the fourth and fifth digits of the hand are reduced; foot reduced to three main toes; three or more vertebrae making up the sacrum (region of the spine that attaches to the pelvis); and an open hip socket” are all considered derived features that all dinosaurs share. The very first creatures possessed these traits and passed them on to their ancestors, as evidenced by their well-documented phylogenetic tree. More detailed analysis of the hip bone differentiated dinosaurs into two broader groups, saurischians and ornithischians. These groups are used to distinguish between “lizard-hipped” and “bird-hipped” respectively. Constructing the hip in this way indicated that dinosaurs necessarily had an upright posture, meaning their hind legs were located directly under their bodies, allowing us to better understand their movements. Various discoveries of dinosaur fossils, primarily throughout mainland China, triggered a paradigm shift in the way paleontologists interpreted the physical makeup and appearance of dinosaurs. On numerous occasions, dinosaur fossil beds have indicated that feather-like hairs most likely covered the bodies of therapods, even though they could not necessarily fly. The actual, practical importance of feathers from an evolutionary perspective is open to debate, particularly for dinosaurs such as the T. Rex. Nonetheless, it provides insight into the phylogenetic relationship between birds and dinosaurs. These earlier discoveries helped launch this new way of thinking that led to closer examination of dinosaur bones. As described in a talk by Dr. Fox and supported in Stephen Bodio's article, if you look closely you will see indentations in the bone structure where the feathers would have attached and anchored to the bones of the theropods. This allowed paleontologists to confirm that dinosaurs had.