New dinosaur specimen found at Ghost Ranch - 10/31/97 (joke)

[MKIRKALDY@aol.com]

Dr. Casper T. Friendly and Dr. Cab O. Caligari of All Souls University
announced the finding of a heretofore unknown dinosaur specimen during a fall
dig at the Ghost Ranch site.

The new specimen, of which only cranial material was found, is described as
having a spherical skull with the orbitals widely spaced.  The dentition
shows severe erosion of the enamel, perhaps indicating a diet of sweetish,
sticky branches.  A single horn projects from the top of the skull which,
astoundingly, seems to show a paleo craniotomy.

Dr. Friendly speculated that the new specimen may belong to the stem-based
clade Jackolanturnia, consisting of terrestrial no-peds,  and which also
contains Monolophosquashus.  

The renowned paleontologists are also studying what may be a bonebed of this
new specimen, with many individuals inexplicably smashed and crushed, and
possibly deposited in a single event.  Tests will be performed on what seem
to be carbon traces on the interior base of the skull fragments.  

Reported by:

Mary
mkirkaldy@aol.com