The duck-billed dinosaur Parasaurolophus is unique for its popular crest, which some researchers have actually recommended functioned as a type of resonating chamber to produce low-frequency noises. No one truly understands what Parasaurolophus Sounded like. Hongjun Lin of New York University is attempting to alter that by building his own design of the dinosaur’s crest and its acoustical qualities. Lin has actually not yet recreated the call of Parasaurolophushowever he discussed his development so far at a virtual conference of the Acoustical Society of America.

Lin was motivated in part by the dinosaur sounds included in the Jurassic Park movie franchise, which were a mix of noises from other animals like child whales and crocodiles. “I’ve been amazed by huge animals since I was a kid. I ‘d invest hours checking out books, enjoying films, and picturing what it would resemble if dinosaurs were still around today,” he stated throughout a press rundown. “It wasn’t up until college that I recognized the noises we hear in films and programs– while enchanting– are totally produced utilizing noises from contemporary animals. That’s when I chose to dive much deeper and explore what dinosaurs may have in fact seemed like.”

A skull and partial skeleton of Parasaurolophus were very first found in 1920 along the Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada, and another partial skull was found the list below year in New Mexico. There are now 3 recognized types of Parasaurolophus; the name indicates “near crested lizard.” While no total skeleton has actually yet been discovered, paleontologists have actually concluded that the adult dinosaur most likely stood about 16 feet high and weighed in between 6,000 to 8,000 pounds. Parasaurolophus was an herbivore that might stroll on all 4 legs while foraging for food however might have worked on 2 legs.

It’s that unique crest that has actually most captivated researchers over the last century, especially its function. Previous hypotheses have actually included its usage as a snorkel or as a breathing tube while foraging for food; as an air trap to keep water out of the lungs; or as an air tank so the dinosaur might stay undersea for longer durations. Other researchers recommended the crest was developed to assist move and support the head or maybe utilized as a weapon while combating other ParasaurolophusAll of these, plus a couple of others, have actually mainly been rejected.