The Common Descent Podcast Episode 52 – Sounds of the Past (Fossil Bioacoustics)
Jan 13, 2019
They investigate how scientists piece together the sounds of extinct animals from fossils, CT scans, and living relatives. They explore recreated dinosaur calls, hollow crests as resonating chambers, and the surprising fossil evidence for insect and bird sound production. They also contrast Hollywood dinosaur noises with scientifically inspired reconstructions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Ankylosaur Noses Worked Like Air Conditioners
- Complex nasal passages in ankylosaurs likely functioned as thermal exchangers and not solely for smell or display.
- Will explains CT-based airflow/humidity models showing Euoplocephalus had more cooling capacity than Panoplosaurus, possibly due to size, habitat, or digestion heat.
Gary Rydstrom’s Behind The Scenes Dinosaur Sound Choices
- Gary Rydstrom recycled many real-animal sounds for Jurassic Park: goose hiss for raptors, swan for Dilophosaurus cuteness, baby elephant for T. rex, and dog noises for biting.
- Will recounts specific source sounds and how recording tricks (slowing, tubes) transformed them into iconic dinosaur noises.
Syrinx Fossil Shows Singing Evolved In Birds
- Dinosaurs probably lacked a syrinx so they likely didn't sing like modern birds.
- Will discusses the fossil syrinx found in a 68 Ma bird and concludes the syrinx appears to be a bird innovation, not ancestral to non-avian dinosaurs.