Mark Witton Journalist Profile

Articles

Where did dinosaurs first evolve? Scientists have an answer

2 months ago | heraldlive.co.za | Mark Witton

The Triassic Period creature Nyasasaurus, considered either an early dinosaur or a close relative, is seen in this illustration released on January 23 2025. Dinosaurs long dominated Earth's land ecosystems with a multitude of forms, including plant eating giants such as Argentinosaurus, meat eating brutes such as Tyrannosaurus and weirdos such as Therizinosaurus, with its Freddy Krueger-like claws.
Where did dinosaurs first evolve? Scientists have an answer

Jan 24, 2025 | dispatchlive.co.za | Mark Witton

The Triassic Period creature Nyasasaurus, considered either an early dinosaur or a close relative, is seen in this illustration released on January 23 2025. Dinosaurs long dominated Earth's land ecosystems with a multitude of forms, including plant eating giants such as Argentinosaurus, meat eating brutes such as Tyrannosaurus and weirdos such as Therizinosaurus, with its Freddy Krueger-like claws.
Scientists dismiss theory that griffins were inspired by dinosaur fossils

Jun 20, 2024 | inkl.com | Mark Witton

Scientists say they have debunked the theory that dinosaur fossils inspired the myth of the griffin. According to legends dating back as far as the 4th millennium BC, the griffin, or gryphon, was a fabulous creature with a raptorial bird head and wings on a lion’s body.
TYRANNOSAURS REX: THE NEW RESEARCH

May 4, 2023 | firstindia.co.in | Mark Witton

Written By: MARK P. WITTON Picture a Tyrannosaurus rex, that ferocious yet one of the most beloved dinosaurs. Most people will probably imagine a scaly giant with enormous fangs, visible even when its mouth is closed. This is the image of toothy predatory dinosaurs that popular culture has perpetuated for over 30 years. But our new study, published in Science, suggests that even the giant teeth of Tyrannosaurus would have been sheathed in scaly lips.
Hvad! Tyrannosaurus rex' tænder var formentlig skjult bag et sæt læber

Apr 23, 2023 | videnskab.dk | Mark Witton

Forestil dig en Tyrannosaurus rex. Glubsk og skræmmende, men alligevel også én af de mest elskede dinosaurer. De fleste af os forestiller os nok en stor og tung kødædende dinosaurus med et stort hoved, enorme hugtænder, som er synlige, selv når munden er lukket. Det er i hvert fald sådan, de kæmpestore rovdinosaurer er blevet foreviget i populærkulturen i mere end 30 år.
Forget the toothy T-Rex from Jurassic Park—UK research shows the giant lizard had lips | Flipboard

Apr 8, 2023 | flipboard.com | Mark Witton

Forget the toothy T-Rex from Jurassic Park—UK research shows the giant lizard had lipsFrom the 1980s onwards, artists and scientists have mostly shown theropod dinosaurs with lipless mouths and exposed teeth. Picture a Tyrannosaurus rex, …
Forget the toothy T-Rex from Jurassic Park-UK research shows the giant lizard had lips

Apr 8, 2023 | theprint.in | Mark Witton

Picture a Tyrannosaurus rex, that ferocious yet one of the most beloved dinosaurs. Most people will probably imagine a scaly giant with enormous fangs, visible even when its mouth is closed. This is the image of toothy predatory dinosaurs that popular culture has perpetuated for over 30 years. But our new study, published in Science, suggests that even the giant teeth of Tyrannosaurus would have been sheathed in scaly lips.
Novo estudo mostra como eram lábios e dentes do Tiranossauro Rex

Apr 6, 2023 | g1.globo.com | Mark Witton

Imagine um Tyrannosaurus rex, aquele dinossauro feroz, mas um dos mais adorados pelas pessoas. A maioria provavelmente irá imaginar um gigante coberto de escamas com enormes dentes caninos, visíveis até quando sua boca está fechada. A cultura popular vem perpetuando esta imagem dos dinossauros predadores cheios de dentes por mais de 30 anos.
New Research Shows Tyrannosaurus Rex’s Enormous Teeth Were Covered With Lips

Apr 6, 2023 | science.thewire.in | Mark Witton

Photo: Mark Witton, Author providedPicture a Tyrannosaurus rex, that ferocious yet one of the most beloved dinosaurs. Most people will probably imagine a scaly giant with enormous fangs, visible even when its mouth is closed. This is the image of toothy predatory dinosaurs that popular culture has perpetuated for over 30 years. But our new study, published in Science, suggests that even the giant teeth of Tyrannosaurus would have been sheathed in scaly lips.
Dinosaur Lips

Apr 1, 2023 | mtstandard.com | Mark Witton

This illustration depicts two principal models of predatory dinosaur facial appearance: crocodilian-like lipless jaws, or a lizard-like lipped mouth. The teeth on T. rex and other big theropods were likely covered by scaly lips, concludes a new study. The dinosaur's teeth didn't stick out when its mouth was closed, and even in a wide open bite, you might just see the tips, scientists found.