Re: Suckling Sauropods and Pigeons' Milk (Altricial Sauropods?)

["Scott Hartman" <scott_hartman@hotmail.com>]

Perhaps this was already mentioned, but the highest absolute growth rates in 
terms of kg/day probably do not occur in the first few years.  A half grown 
apatosaur can put on 12-15 kg/day and it is still growing much slower 
(relatively) than is was as a yearling.  In this event, mother apatosaurs 
were almost certainly not being followed by five-year-old suckling  
sauropods.

    Perhaps more disturbing are the apparently uninsulated titanosaur 
embryos from Argentina.  Rapid growth is difficult in small uninsulated 
animals, which is why naked skinned birds are altricial.  ALtricial birds 
are kept in a nest (environmental insulation), are surrounded by endothermic 
siblings (behavioral insulation) and have food crammed into their throats, 
saving them the energy costs of gathering their own meals.  I find this 
scenario unlikely for sauropods, so what gives?

Scott

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