RE: Arm length

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

> From: owner-dinosaur@usc.edu [mailto:owner-dinosaur@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
> Jordan Mallon
>
> Question: if femur + tibia + Mt3 = leg length, then does arm length =
> humerus + radius + metacarpals?  Is there a consistent way of
> measuring arm
> length?
> Thanks,

Actually, there are no real "formal" definitions for either.  I suggest (as
is done in any scientific paper) of simply stating up front the definition
you use, and then plotting/comparing it amongst the forms in question.

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
                Vertebrate Paleontologist
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
                College Park, MD  20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/tholtz.htm
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol):  301-314-9661       Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-405-0796