Re: Lack of Sauropod Gastroliths - cellulose digestive Enzymes

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

> Maybe the real question should be - Is it likely that sauropods had  genes
> that produced enzymes that could break down cellulose?

Good idea. I just fear that, except if cellulases produce some weird isotope 
fractionation, this is untestable.

> If cellulose digesting bacteria gave these other, later
> dinosaur branches an opportunity to digest  plant
> matter (and replaceable teeth gave them food grinding material),
> these  latter groups might have had a later advantage, driving the
> sauropods to  extinction by forcing the evolution of quicker
> maturing plant species.

Doesn't explain the coexistence of hadrosaurs and sauropods in South America 
and Asia in the Late Cretaceous.