Re: DINOSAUR digest 1367

[Robert Clements <clemensr@one.net.au>]

> Subject: I wonder why mammals and birds don't reach sizes characteristic of 
> greatest dinosaurs
> Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 14:09:38 EET DST
> From: "Henri Rönkkö" <overmind@iobox.fi>
> To: saursThu@spool.iobox.fi, 27 Apr 2000 14:09:38.EET.DST@spool.iobox.fi
> 
> It has been proposed that the fast metabolism of these animals would create 
> too much heat. However, we do suppose dinosaurs were warm-blooded, 
don't we?
> ----
> Soittoäänet ja ikonit matkapuhelimeen!  http://www.iobox.fi/
> Well: the brontotheres were pretty thumping huge, if not quite 
sauropodian....

Perhaps a faster metabolism precluded really huge forms in the herbivores 
because no natural environment could carry 'em over a sustained period 
(it's still hard to believe that the unregulated metabolisms of sauropods 
could find enough to eat; but obviously they must'ave); & without 
superhuge herbivores, there was no ecological niche for a carnivorous 
equivalent.

Just a guess.

All the best,


Robert Clements <Robert.Clements@dva.gov.au>