Re: Sauropod Energetics (Peristaltic pump)

[GSP1954@aol.com]

Oxygen levels are irrelevant to the basic BP issue in tall sauropods. Either 
the blood gets up there or it doesn't, it's a matter of the mass density of 
water-blood. 

Sauropods grew very rapidly, achievable only among animals with high mass 
specific metabolic rates and energy budgets. Among other things you have to eat 
fast to grow fast. There is no evidence sauropods lived very long. Continental 
animals subject to predation, infectious disease and accident do not last much 
past half a century. Slow growing, low metabolic rate tortoises live longer 
because they are protected against predators by heavy armor, are in little 
danger of injury during locomotion, and the biggest live on predator and 
disease 
free islands. 

G Paul