Re: not dino

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-01-28 16:48:32 EST, PWSPARKS@aol.com writes:

>dinogeorge was talking about the use (or nonuse) of the tails of suaropods
>for cooling purposes. While I agree that the cylindrical shape isn't
>maximized for cooling, it doesn't mean that it couldn't be used for that
>purpose if the shape was developed for something else beforehand. I get lots
>of cooling from my head (esp when I used to play soccer) with its marvelous
>shinny top. I think that its fairly certain that my head was develped for
>some other reason first. I probably do this because I don't have a conical
>tail. In addition, Kangoroos lick their wrists to cool themselves, and I
>suspect that their wrists were originally meant to attach their hands to
>their arms.
>
>

Right. The body parts of most animals serve multiple purposes. So the
sauropod tail undoubtedly did have some kind of thermoregulatory use,
probably about as efficient as the legs and tail. But I don't think it's
shape was particularly adapted to that function. It was probably better
adapted to swinging some kind of weapon (whip or tail club). I wouldn't be
surprised to find sauropods using their tails for swimming, for example.