Re: Sauropod Rearing (was SVP On the Missisippi)

[Michael Habib <mbh3q@virginia.edu>]

I also had some problems with the conclusions of the Rothschild et al. talk,
which is one reason I invited responses on the topic.  Thanks to Mark for a
great response.

To help further this discussion, I thought I might throw my two cents in
that the authors made no distinction between defensive rearing and rearing
for foraging.  I personally expect that there should be rather important
differences in the rate of rearing between the two.  (I also find rearing
for foraging much more plausible; for one thing, why does a 40 ton sauropod
need to rear against a 1.5 ton allosaurid?  A foot would suffice...)

I won't go on here about other issues I had with the study, as I want to
hear what others have to say, but I wanted to add that thought to the
thread.

--Mike Habib