Re: dinosaur copulation?

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.NCR.COM>]

 From: John Erick Schneiderman <dino@cwis.unomaha.edu>
 >
 > It is possible that sauropods may have only mated when they were
 > sub-adults and stopped mating after they reached a certain size or weight.

This is extremely doubtful.

What would the selective advantage be of growing to such large size
after reproductive age?  Remember, natural selection deals in
*reproduction* only.  An extreme adaptation can only evolve if it
improves *reproduction*.  Thus, a non-reproductive gigantic post-
adult would nt be selected for under most circumstaances.

The *only* possiblity in this regard would be if they had such a
cohesive social structure that the post-adults provided significant
protection and/or feeding advantages to the children of their kin.

swf@elsegundoca.ncr.com         sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.