Re: ceratopsian frount limb stance

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

cliff green wrote:
> 
> Of all the red eyed conversations on ceratopsian locomotion that I've been
> envolved with over the years, how they spun on their heels has never, to my
> knowledge, been brought up. I think Bakker has made some hypothetical
> comment in his book and lectures, although I'm not certain when and where.
> Now I'm really curious.Does any one on the list have any input on this?
> 

It would seem to me that the "elbows out" stance would have made it
easier to spin around to face an attacker, in much the same way that a
quarter horse does when working cattle. The hind limbs remain relatively
still with the hips as the pivot point, while the forelimbs push off at
an angle to one side or the other. It would seem to me that, if
provoked, a large ceratopian would have prefered to keep its horns
between itself and the agressor, rather than making a run for it and
have its main defence pointing away from the pursuer.

-- 
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Dann Pigdon                   Australian Dinosaurs:
GIS Archaeologist           http://dannsdinosaurs.terrashare.com
Melbourne, Australia        http://www.alphalink.com.au/~dannj/
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