Re: dimorphism

[Graydon <graydon@dsl.ca>]

On Sun, Dec 23, 2001 at 06:03:10AM -0500, StephanPickering@cs.com scripsit:
> A query/speculation: if one measures hindfoot lengths and shoulder height of 
> sauropods, and, if possible, determines growth curves for each size 
> measurement, a linear relationship between foot length and shoulder height 
> might demonstrate sexual dimorphism in both hind foot length and shoulder 
> height. 

It demonstrates no such thing; if you have enough sauropod specimens
from _one_ species and _one_ locality, and you can get a set of
characters that group tightly with different ratios, _then_ you _might_
have an argument for sexual dimorphism.

If you can do that -- and no such assemblage of sauropod material is
known to exist -- you still have no way to tell male from female.

-- 
                           graydon@dsl.ca
               To maintain the end is to uphold the means.