Re: Dinosaurs in April Discover Magazine

[MKIRKALDY <MKIRKALDY@aol.com>]

In a message dated 3/19/98 2:21:36 AM Eastern Standard Time,
veselinka.stanisavac@siol.net writes:

>  The idea however, is as old as the fossil finds themselves, and is quite
>  possible. Some dinosaurs with high spinal struts quite probably fit into
the
>  theory in question(Hypacrosaurus, Altyspinax, etc.),and Ouranosaurus "sail"
>  indeed looks a lot like camel's or bison's hump. I am not sure about
>  Spinosaurus - its "sail" is a bit different.

The article specifically mentions _Ouranosaurus_ as being a possibility,
and Bailey thought that the "hump might have forced _Ouranosaurus_
down on all fours with its head lowered like a bison's."

>  The "true" sails of Dimetrodon and some other pelycosaurs are built
>  lightly - obviously just to support a flap of skin.

Yes, the differences mentioned were that "Unlike _Dimetrodon's_ thin
bony spears, the dinosaurs' struts were flat and broad with swollen
tips like the ones found in humpbacked animals."

Mary
mkirkaldy@aol.com