PLEUROCOELOUS VERTEBRAE IN SAUROPODS

[franczak@ntplx.net (Brian Franczak)]

Nick Longrich wrote:

> Sauropods do something similar, I think, with their pleurocoelous
>vertebrae-  > eliminating the material in the middle, where it doesn't do
>much good.

and...

> That's why dinos have heat problems ( at least, in theory)- surface area
>being  the only way to lose heat, and a 20-ton Apatosaurus not having a
>lot of it.

Wouldn't airsacs in these pleurocoelous vertebrae add to the surface area
and aid in keeping the animal from overheating?

Brian Franczak (franczak@ntplx.net)