Re: sauropod rearing

["Richard W. Travsky" <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>]

On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 GSP1954@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 1/30/06 11:27:55 AM, rtravsky@uwyo.edu writes:
>
> << The pelvic region has always looked too rigid to permit much in the way of
> rearing, particularly if there are large neural spines. A quick hop up,
> but a sustained rearing...? >>
>
> Say what? Rigidity would be a good thing for rearing. That's why pelvo-sacral
> complexes are so robustly built, especially in ground slothes adapted for
> rearing.

Rigid as in inflexible. Consider elephant skeleton

http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/304/colloq/elphskel2.JPG

and horse

http://www.valpo.edu/organization/psme/pics/instruments/horse.jpg

Both can rear and have less rigid looking pelvic structures. BUT,
I just came across

 http://www.bhigr.com/store/product.php?productid=394&cat=54&page=1

which features for sale a replica of a baby sauropod and there's one
depiction of the replica rearing. However, that's a young one; here's
an adult

 http://www.dinosauromorpha.de/sauropoda/dicraeosaurus_hansemanni.JPG

with what appears to be fused spines. This is the sort of thing I was
thinking of.