Re: Not dinosaurs

[JCMcL <darwincr@laplaza.taos.nm.us>]

On Fri, 26 Jan 1996, Bob Myers wrote:

> If you want to minimize surface area, you make rounded shapes. A
> conical tail is the wrong shape.  You'd want a very flattened tail if
> you wanted to maximize the surface area.  That's one reason why some
> people propose sails or stegosaur plates as radiators - they're flat!
> 
> Bob Myers                              InteleNet Communications, Inc.

Best explanation I've heard yet!  Keep them coming!
Another question on sauropod cooling: did these animals have air sacs as 
birds and (presumably) many theropods did?
How extensive would these sacs have been, one wonders, and how far into 
the neck and tail would they have reached?
How effective would the circulation of the air through these sacs have been?

I am simply mystified as to how a sauropod kept from overheating, 
particularly one of the really large economy-sized models.  

Thanks for all the well-meaning commentary!

John McLoughlin, who hath no tail, conical or otherwise