Precision

[Rahul Daryanani <rahul721@hotmail.com>]

Firstly, I'd like to thank all those who helped me out with my questions on 
Bruhathkayosaurus, especially Mike and Mickey.

Secondly, yes, this article is concerning sizes too (this is actually the 
thing I find most intersesting about dinosaurs). I'm working on a book on 
the largest sauropods, and I'm going REALLY crazy when it comes to sizes.

I'm not only talking about the ones where evidence is sparse. Take 
Brachiosaurus. We have a complete skeleton, and as Mike noted in one of his 
replies, estimates range from 15-180 tonnes. That's a difference of more 
than 1000%. Seriously, considering B. brancia is probably the best 
represented sauropod, that's more than ridicoulous (no offense).

That's why everything I've read in books, articles, and on various websites, 
has really got to me. For example, Gillete's book cited Seismosaurus at a 
minimum of 120-150 feet long, and 100 tons. Other books put it at over 170 
feet and 150 tons. A couple of the newer articles cite it at 110 feet and 25 
tons. See what I mean? How is it possible for all those writers and 
scientests to make such precise estimates when evidence is so minimal. A 
very good book called 'Supergiants: The Largest Dinosaurs', give estimates 
from the scientests themselves, which I've discovered are more or less 
unreliable themselves.

If you want a real idea of what I mean, I'lle give you a few more examples 
about how the sizes range from various sources:

1. Argentinosaurus: 72-150 feet, 73-110 tons
2. Paralititan: 65-130 feet, 60-80 tons
3. Seismosaurus: 100-180 feet, 25-150 tons
4. Supersaurus: 80-150 feet, 30-100 tons
5. Amphicoelias: 125-205 feet,98 (this was Mike's estimate, probably the one 
I trust the most)-170
tons
6...... Aw forget it!

That probably gives you the idea of what I mean. How is it possible for 
anyone to cite estimates like these with such terrible evidence. Could 
someone help me out here? Otherwise, I'll leave my book on hold until more 
evidence is discovered, or I'll use my own calculations (which are just as 
unreliable, as I used better known genera like Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus 
for comparisons, and the estimates vary just as crazily for them, too).

Cheers,
Rahul

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