Re: sauropod quantity

[Stanley Friesen <sarima@ix.netcom.com>]

At 09:43 AM 9/17/99 -0500, Joseph Daniel wrote:
>Someone made a comment about such a large number of very large animals and
that
>got me to thinking. Is it possible that the fossil record is 
>over-represented by
>sauropods and other very large animals (I mean in relation to other smaller
>animals)?

Not merely possible, virtually certain.  Almost any model of taphonomic
processes shows a relative impoverishment of small, delicate forms.

> The thought came to me that the very large bones might improve
>fossilization by taking longer to dispose of and will thus have more of a 
>chance to fossilize, at least a piece of them anyway, than smaller animals.

Yes, absolutely.  And also they are easier to see when surveying for fossil
sites, and last longer after being exposed by erosion, allowing more time
to find them.

[Not to mention the better funding for spectacular displayable specimens].

--------------
May the peace of God be with you.         sarima@ix.netcom.com