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RE: Supersaurus lenght
The paper gives the measurements of the known elements of that specimen. That
is what is actually known. Anything beyond the actual
bones--and thus, both the calculations in the paper AND the mount--represents
extrapolations. Either might be right, or both might
be wrong. We don't know.
And consider that in diplodocids you can *EASILY* be off by a couple of meters
plus or minus: that whip-like end of the tail is
essentially nothing in terms of body mass.
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Email: tholtz@umd.edu Phone: 301-405-4084
Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Office: Geology 4106, 8000 Regents Dr., College Park MD 20742
Dept. of Geology, University of Maryland
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
Phone: 301-405-6965
Fax: 301-314-9661
Faculty Director, Science & Global Change Program, College Park Scholars
Office: Centreville 1216, 4243 Valley Dr., College Park MD 20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc
Fax: 301-314-9843
Mailing Address: Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Department of Geology
Building 237, Room 1117
8000 Regents Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-4211 USA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu [mailto:owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu] On Behalf Of
> Poekilopleuron
> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 1:10 AM
> To: dinosaur@usc.edu; dino@miketaylor.org.uk
> Subject: Supersaurus lenght
>
> Good day,
>
> I have a question regarding actual lenght of Wyoming "Jimbo" Supersaurus
> specimen. According to the 2007 study, it was 33 - 34
> meters long, although the mounted cast measures "only" 106 feet (32,3 m).
> What is wrong - replica or the estimations? Also, how
> robust this animal actually was? According to the 2007 study it had very wide
> and massive torso, while it is generally accepted,
that
> Supersaurus was much more slender and less robust proportionally than
> Apatosaurus was. Given its gargantuan proportions (talking
> about S. vivanae) the given mass estimate of 35 - 40 tons is also quite small
> number IMHO. Thank you, Tom