Spinosaurus sail

[Oberon <oberon@box.com>]

Mickey Mortimer wrote:
>And what is your estimate based on? Keep in mind the largest known dorsal 
of Spinosaurus is over 190% as large as the largest dorsal of 9.1 meter long 
Baryonyx. Nothing's better to estimate total length with than vertebral 
length. Would be odd if such large vertebra came from an animal only 45% 
longer than Baryonyx, as you suggest. 

That is a good point, indeed. I have made my rough calculations based on the 
size of the partial jaw and Stromer's hypothetical skeletal restoration 
(slightly modified - according to the recent knowledge of the spinosaurid 
anatomy). 
I don't think it is a good idea to compare the length of two different animals 
(genera) based on the lengths of their "largest" vertebra. It may be a 
reasonable indicator, but won't give you the precise measure.
By the way Baryonyx (holotype) was about 8,3 meters long.
Anyway, unless the whole skeleton is preserved, every length calculation is a 
speculation.

Cheers!
Beri

Sincerely,\
Oberon

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