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DINO HUNT project: help request



Greetings, all:

        I'm working on a game, to be released this August, called DINO
HUNT. (No, we're not playing at trophy-hunting; this is a game of traveling
in time to "bring 'em back alive."
        It will cover dinosaurs, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, and a few
interesting creatures like Xiphactinus and Archelon.

        The game cards will have art by Pat Ortega and Bob Walters, and
will contain the best scientific data that I can get; I'm going for
Dinosaur Society approval on this whole project. (And right now I'd like to
tip my hat to Tom Holtz, who has been extraordinarily helpful on a wide
variety of subjects.)

        And this list has been very valuable over the last few months, both
in directing me toward creatures and subjects of interest, and in help from
individuals answering specific questions about their specialties.

        I have put off writing this letter as long as I could, because I
don't like to ask the list to do my homework. But - especially on
non-dinosaurs - I sometimes have trouble digging up references. (Which
reminds me: Can anyone direct me to a modern book on Mesozoic marine
reptiles, of stature comparable to Wellnhofer's Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs
and the Dinosaur Society Encyclopedia? There are no marine-reptile
questions below, except for a plea for authority on Archelon, because I
have so darned MANY of them.)

Reconstructions
        Our Edmontosaurus art does not show a frill along the back. Should
I worry? How certain are we of this feature, mentioned in the Dinosaur
Encyclopedia?

        I had understood that stegosaurs did NOT have hip spikes, period;
that the spikes formerly thought to project from the hip of, e.g.,
Lexovisaurus, were actually shoulder spikes as per Kentrosaurus? The artist
working on Lex depicted it with hip spikes. I questioned this, and got a
note back from the agent stating flatly that the spikes were on the hips.
He said he had "four books and seven scientists" to back it up, but didn't
name them . . . OTOH, the Dinosaur Encyclopedia (1993) thinks the spikes on
both species are on the shoulders. Is there something newer than 1993 that
moved some or all stegosaurian spikes back to the hips again?

Identification and Synonymy
        Roccosaurus, Melanorosaurus, Euskelosaurus - what is going on? Is
this a single creature, or two, or three? What's the current correct name?

        What's the deal with the apparent (early?) confusion between
Stegoceras and Troodon?

Size
        I need to find a reasonable adult standing height for Ammosaurus,
Anchisaurus, Plateosaurus and Stygimoloch. Actually, considering the
speculations about posture, hip height might be more meaningful for
Stygimoloch.

        I need to find hip height for Chasmosaurus, Antarctosaurus,
Saltasaurus, Titanosaurus, Shunosaurus, Mamenchisaurus.

        I need a good Amargasaurus reference for length, weight, hip height.

        I need to locate height and weight estimates for Shanshanosaurus
and Muttaburrasaurus.

General Ignorance
        I can't find a good modern source for info on Archelon. Can anyone
point me toward an authority, in either human or text form?

        What is the derivation of the name "Xiphactinus"?

        Where has fossil material been found for Rutiodon - actual fossil
sites? My sources don't narrow it down past the continent level...

Thanks in advance for any comments you can give. I'd suggest posting to the
list if you have anything really interesting or controversial, and
e-mailing me directly otherwise.



 Steve Jackson - yes, of SJ Games - yes, we won the Secret Service case
Learn Web or die - http://www.io.com/sjgames/ - dinosaurs, Lego, Kahlua!
          The heck with PGP keys; finger for Geek Code. Fnord.