RE: Long Horizontal Necks Re: Vertebrae of Early Sauropods

["Eric Martichuski" <herewiss13@hotmail.com>]

> From: "Richard W. Travsky" <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>
> Question - what would the effects be on sauropod head and brain if it
> quickly sung its neck around? Kinda like a centrifuge, with blood pooling?

Why would it need to swing the neck quickly? (admittedly, the 'cudgel' idea 
probably needs to be nixed)  You eat the patch of foliage on the extreme 
right, swing a foot to the left and continue.  When you reach the extreme 
left, take one step, eat and then swing a foot tot he right.  All very slow 
and deliberate and less stressful than continued walking.

There might also valves within the circulatory system to prevents just such 
spikes of local pressure.  I admit, I'm stepping into the realm of rampant 
speculation, but  I know flow-back prevention valves exist, so 
"flow-forward" prevention valves aren't such a _tremendous_ leap.

The _real_ question is how would a vertical necked sauropod take a drink?  
The minute it lowered its head, the increased pressure would basically pop 
the skull right off. ;-)  I _think_ "Dinosaur Heresies" answered that one 
(it's where I remember the amusing drawing from), but it's been too long 
since I last went through that, and now it's in storage.

Eric
______________________________________________________________________
"There is no other wisdom,
And no other hope for us
But that we grow wise. -- Diane Duane
______________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
All the action. All the drama. Get NCAA hoops coverage at MSN Sports by 
ESPN. http://msn.espn.go.com/index.html?partnersite=espn