Re: Parasaurolophus

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM>]

>From: binder@zk3.dec.com (vitam gustare)
 > 
 > % setenv IRONY on
 > 
 > Can someone please direct me to the documentation proving that long
 > crests == male sex in Parasaurolophus?  I'm laboring under the
 > misapprehension that this is all guesswork, not established fact.
 > 
 > % setenv IRONY off
 > 
It is somewhere in between.

In those lambeosaurines with a sifficient sample size to tell,
the females have smaller crests than the males (mainly Corythosaurus
and Lambeosaurus). Of the known specimens of Parasaurolophus, there
are two sizes of crests, large and small.  It is a reasonable,
though arguable, conclusion, that the small crested form was female.
[With only some three or so skulls, scattered from New Mexico to
Canada, the alternative, that there were several species, is still
quite viable].


We really need more samples, especially of the southern populations.

swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.