Re: Big = Old = Advanced?

[Bettyc <Bettyc@flyinggoat.com>]

Dinogeorge@aol.com wrote:
> Large animals needs lots of territory, and have smaller populations, longer
> gestation and/or growth-to-maturity periods, and smaller litters/hatchings.
> All these factors place clear limits on their potential for diversification.

But dinosaurs are KNOWN for their remarkably large clutches.  A single
non-flying bird might lay 3-5 eggs in one clutch and there are numerous
examples of dinosaurs (and crocs AND sea turtles) easily outnumbering
these counts.  We've argued about the fact that the higher numbers in
each clutch give more of the fragile hatchlings a chance to survive to
adulthood.

-- 
           Betty Cunningham  
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