Maiasaura stuff in this week's _Science_

[rowe@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu (Mickey Rowe)]

After SVP we heard rumors that Jack Horner's views of Maiasaura
nesting behavior got a severe drubbing.  It's now more official:

Geist, N. R., and Jones, T. D. (1996).  "Juvenile Skeletal Structure
     and the Reproductive Habits of Dinosaurs", _Science_,
     272:712-714. 

I haven't read it in its entirety yet, but the gist seems to be that
comparison of the bone histology of the pelvic gurdles and knee joints
of modern birds and crocodiles with those of _Maiasaura_ and
_Orodromeus_ indicate that both dinosaur species were precocial rather
than altricial.  That is they could probably walk as soon as they
hatched.  The article ends with a parting shot against the inference
of endothermy in dinosaurs based on the apparent brooding behavior of
_Oviraptor_.

There's a related "Research News" article in the same issue:

Morell, V. (1996).  "Strong Baby Limbs May Kick Image of Maternal
     Dinos",  _Science_, 272:651.

While you're there, you might want to check out page 653...

-- 
Mickey Rowe     (rowe@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu)