Re: DINOSAUR digest 3384

[K and T Dykes <ktdykes@arcor.de>]

<<I am _not_ trying to say this is germane to k/t extinction patterns (don't
think it is); nevertheless, I would like to point out that the ability to
hold breath correlates positively w/ body size. Large dinos may not have
needed (detectable) adaptations to stay submerged for significant periods of
time. Never seen this mentioned in discussions of sauropod lifestyles...>>

I can't claim to be a follower of sauropods, Don, but the large ones would
presumably have required extraordinary lungs to withstand the water
pressure.  I'm reminded of an Austrian researcher I've forgotten the name
of.  He apparently twice tried breathing through long snorkels in a swimming
pool, in order to demonstrate the difficulties.  The second and longer
snorkel proved more difficult than expected, as it resulted in a fatal heart
attack.  His research got no further.

I think Michael Benton is the source for that, (possibly in The Book of
Life).  It's quite possible I've mangled some details.