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Re: [Re: _Scipionyx_ and diaphragms again]
Not only is there a lack of pubic kinesis in theropods, but the whole
thing should never have been published for lack of a proper correlation
between liver morphology and function. Livers have many functions, not the
least of which is digestive enzyme production. As a byproduct of enzyme
production, animals who consume and digest large amounts of food in short
periods of time(like endothermic carnivores) need large livers to quickly
produce the large amounts of said enzymes needed for digestion. This is
especially true of quick growing juveniles. If you can, get ahold of any
documentation of ratite juveniles (the first Emu Farmers Handbook has great
photos), you will see that their livers are even larger than that of
Scipionyx. How the paper was published without proper
investigation/discussion of alternative liver use (and correlative
morphology) is beyond me. You'd think that establishing causal
relationships would be a good thing in science...
Scott
P.S. Also, the posterior position of Emu trachea are in the _exact_ same
position as that of Scipionyx. It would seem not to preclude airsac
respiration then, no?
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