Re: Sauropods and Cycads??

["Larry Febo" <larryf@capital.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <Danvarner@aol.com>
To: <larryf@capital.net>
Cc: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: Sauropods and Cycads??


> In a message dated 8/30/99 11:41:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> larryf@capital.net writes:
>
> << Cycads were restricted to warmer enviorns (meaning Southern North
America
> in the Cretaceous...right?).  >>
>
>   Not really, Larry. South Dakota is famous for its Cretaceous cycads and
> Cycad National Monument (which was actually picked clean by collectors
before
> it could even open). Dan Varner.
>

So then...this means that there were periods of warmer climes in the
Cretaceous where the Cycads could then grow in more Northern areas. I heard
that it was generally cooler towards the end of the Cretaceous. ( of course
though,...you think it was always warm in the Mesozoic...8^O)


Also, I`ve heard that Porqupines (sp?) feed on pine needles. If so, what
enables them to do this? Does it have to do with the ability to digest the
wax coating on these needles? Could Sauropods have been so adapted?

At any rate,...I see a problem with Sauropods feeding on pines. Firstly,
there must have been plenty of pines up north, as a matter of fact, even
much further north than the cycads. So, if they fed on pines, why aren`t
their remains found in northern regions???
I can`t see why such huge creatures weren`t even better adapted to facing a
colder clime than other dinosaurs.

(Please,...anyone feel free to answer these questions. Any Porkypine experts
out there??)

(SORRY FOR THE REPEAT MESSAGE dAN, i FORGOT TO REPLY TO ALL...Ddmn caps
lock....I`m a computer clutz this morn...sheesh!)