RE: Spinosaurus sail

["Tracy L. Ford" <dino.hunter@home.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dinosaur@usc.edu [mailto:owner-dinosaur@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
Oberon
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 10:58 AM
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: Spinosaurus sail

Again: my drawing of the sail is rather schematic - giving the general
(probable) shape. Nevertheless, the spines are not drawn as being straight.
Actually, some of the spines of _Spinosaurus_ had even the slight "S" curve
(not shown in the image).

In my opinion, the "sail" in Spinosaurus might have been similar in shape
(seen from profile) to the sail of the Rauisuchian _Ctenosauruiscus_.<<

No, the fossil evidance itself shows that it didn't. This is a common
mistake (hmm, a new article for Prehistoric Times?, may be that'll be the
next one).

>>A schematic drawing of _Ctenosauruiscus_:
 http://www.wort-und-wissen.de/sij/sij61-8.html

In _Spinosaurus_ the tallest spines were probably placed eccentric - closer
to the back of the sail - to provide  the balance for the biped animal.<<

I did a skeletal drawing of Ctenosauriscus (awhile ago) with a skull like
that of Lotosaurus, guess I'll have to change to a rauischian when the paper
comes out. Very interesting.

I
Tracy L. Ford
P. O. Box 1171
Poway Ca  92074