Re: Gastroliths in Chinese theropods

[Dinogeorge <Dinogeorge@aol.com>]

In a message dated 97-12-17 18:18:17 EST, th81@umail.umd.edu writes:

<< Gastroliths are a primitive archosaurian feature: birds have'm, crocs
 have'm, and by using phylogenetic bracketing, all other archosaurs probably
 had them.  It is no more an aquatic feature than is the antorbital fenestra!
>>

In modern flying birds, gastroliths help to grind up and digest the birdseed
they consume. I understand caged birds become very agitated when they're not
allowed to have tiny stones in their diets.