Re: Sauropod tails

[luisrey@ndirect.co.uk (luisrey)]

I haven't seen any mention on the fact that dinosaurs like Shunosaurus,
Omeisaurus and possibly Mamenchisaurus had tail clubs. This is the
definitive proof that sauropods used their tails defensively and
offensively. I still find the cracking sound of and Apatosaurus tail rather
irresistible (at least as a theory).

>Peter Von Sholly wrote:
>>
>> A whip doesn't have to hit you teribbly hard to hurt like hell.  I don't
>> think sauropods got where they were by being feeble, and they didn't start
>> out big.  Elephants probably use their tusks and intraspecific combat
>> mainly because who else will fight with them?  They also use their trunks
>> as weapons- my father was literally thrown through the air by a blow from
>> an elephant's trunk when he was young.  Sauropod tails still seem like
>> something you'd want to watch out for, to me.

 Dann Pigdon wrote:
>Indeed, a whip does not have to break the sound barrier to be effective.
>The cat-o-nine tails is a good example. Could sauropod tails have
>played a part in mating rituals after all, although in a slightly
>kinkier fashion? I seem to remember that it is the barbed penis
>of a tomcat that triggers ovulation in the female by causing her
>considerable pain when being withdrawn. Could a sound whipping do
>something similar to a female sauropod?
>        Now who's got too much time on his hands...




Luis Rey

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