Re: Help-info on stegosaur plates #2

[Chris Glen <LIGHTHOUSE@harveynorman.com.au>]

Thanks Gigi,

>As much as I respect Stephen Czerkas, I must concede that his view of
>_Stegosaurus_ as having a single row of alternating plates has definitely
>fallen out of favor of late.  As Dinogeorge has pointed out, other genera
>of stegosaurs (the Chinese forms, I believe) have been found which
>apparently had a double row of plates, so we would expect to see the same
>in _Stegosaurus_, too.

I was starting to wonder about that, but I didn't know how complete the
other stegosaur remains were, so I was beginning to convince myself the
single row was most plausible (though not to accept it as gospel). Thanks
for the info.

Any info on the structural strength of _Stegosaurus_ plates and spines and
those of other stegosaurs that would rule them out as armour/weapons? If the
spines of something like _Kentrosaurus_ were too weak for this role then
what were they for? The information I have is only based on studies of
_Stegosaurus_, and it indicates these structures were too weak, had no horny
sheath and were not mobile.


Thanks, 
Chris

(improved - I thnk -, but still silly signiture to follow....)
                \
 <'\             \                  Christopher Glen            
   \\   ______    *                 PO Box 399     
----\\-/ ```` \-------------        Noosa, Queensland 4567         
     \__ \__/ /\                    Australia           
       ||| |||\_======-----                                  
       ""  ""   
                ~QP> ~QP>

One Late Mesozoic mammal to an other after a hard day of dodging 
dinosaur feet and droppings, only to find their burrow trampled: 
"Hey, a falling star, make a wish."