[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index]
Re: Rearing up on hind legs (was Re: Parrish's neck work ...)
In a message dated 5/1/99 2:07:09 AM EST, Edels@email.msn.com writes:
<< Something to remember, is that only _Apatosaurus_ and _Diplodocus_ were
modeled in the study. _Braichosaurus_ and other sauropods were not
examined. >>
Yes, indeed. The neck architecture of brachiosaurids, camarasaurids, and
euhelopodids and mamenchisaurids is quite different from that of diplodocids.
Their necks, with their elongated cervical ribs, weren't particularly
dorsoventrally flexible either, but I suspect they could reach relatively
higher from a four-footed posture than could the diplodocids because of the
angle the necks make with the bodies and because the forequarters were
elevated on relatively tall forelimbs. In diplodocids like Apatosaurus and
Diplodocus, the forelimbs were markedly shorter than the hind limbs, which
doesn't help the head reach high from a four-footed posture (but, coupled
with the relatively short back, it makes attaining a tripodal rearing posture
easier).