Re: new boook on functional morphology

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

 > > of it,  Johnson and Ostrom make a very strong case (and I was very pro 
 > > erect
 > > gait!) for a sprawling gait in ceratopsian forelimbs, and this means that I
 > > am now very confused! What are these things actually doing? The authors 
 > > make
 > > a few suggestions...
 > 

Hmm, I seem to have missed the original of this, so please pardon the
lack of attribution.

Recently discovered ceratopsian trackways have definatively countered
Johnson & Ostrom's reconstruction of a sprawling gait. The trackways
are consistant with either an erect gait or a bow-legged gait (if
the manus was held twisted outward), but NOT with a sprawling gait.

That aside, it is still true the main use of the horns was probably
contests *within* the species.  Even well-armed herbivores prefer
to run away from predators rather than fight.


swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.