- Target:
- State of New Jersey
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- dryptosaurus.org
Dryptosaurus (meaning "tearing lizard") was a genus of primitive tyrannosaur that lived in Eastern North America at the end of the Late Cretaceous period. A famous painting of the genus by Charles R. Knight has made it one of the more widely-known dinosaurs.
Dryptosaurus was 6.5 m long, 1.8 m high at the hips, and weighed about 1.2 tons. It had relatively long arms with three fingers. Each of these fingers was tipped by a talon-like 8 inch claw. These claws lend a meaning for the type species aquilunguis: eagle-clawed.
In 1866, an incomplete skeleton of Dryptosaurus was found in Barnsboro, New Jersey by workers in a quarry. Paleontologist E.D. Cope described the remains, naming the creature "Laelaps" ("storm wind", after the dog in Greekmythology that never failed to catch what it was hunting). "Laelaps" became one of the first dinosaurs described from North America. Subsequently, it was discovered that the name "Laelaps" had already been given to a species of insect, and Cope's lifelong rival O.C. Marsh changed the name in 1877 to Dryptosaurus.
Project Dryptosaurus is dedicated to educating the public and scientific community about the world’s forgotten second partial dinosaur skeleton found in New Jersey, Dryptosaurus aquilunguis. Dryptosaurus was found in 1866, not long after Hadrosaurus foulkii, the world's first partial dinosaur skeleton and New Jersey's state dinosaur.
Two of the first partial dinosaur skeletons found in the world right here in New Jersey! What makes these finds even better is that one skeleton represents a plant eater (Hadrosaurus) and one a meat eater (Dryptosaurus). I believe the State of New Jersey should recognize Dryptosaurus for his/her historical importance and make this animal the second state dinosaur to be recognized in New Jersey. Thus making New Jersey the first to have two state dinosaurs that are both of equal scientific importance.
I encourage the people of New Jersey and the world to sign this petition. By doing so, you can show your support for Dryptosaurus aquilunguis becoming a state dinosaur alongside Hadrosaurus foulkii here in New Jersey.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Please Make Dryptosaurus The Second State Dinosaur Of New Jersey petition to State of New Jersey was written by Gary and is in the category Education at GoPetition.