Re: Fwd: possible role of echolocation in K-T survival

[rjmeyer@ix.netcom.com (Rob Meyerson)]

Stanley Friesen writes,

>Basically, any whale (incl. dolphins) with an enlarged "forehead" region
>uses echolocation.  The sperm whale's enormous head is just an extreme
>expression of this structure.
>
>So, do any of the soft-tissue outlines of ichthyosaurs show evidence of a
>"melon" or other enlarged fatty organ anywhere near the front of the
>animal? If so, then they probably echolocated.

However, this assumes that a melon is required for echolocation.  Bats 
echolocate just fine using only their ears, which would suggest that there are 
multiple ways of making echolocation feasable.

Admittedly, there could be differences in echolocation strategies/requirements 
for air and water.  A dolphin with bat-like ears would have a difficult time 
remaining streamlined (don't you just love the mental picture though  :^).

Is it possible that aquatic reptiles used an entirely different strategy for 
echolocation?  Head bones perhaps???


Shalom,

Rob Meyerson

***
"Listen to the song, not the words."
                -Kosh