Re: Sauropods and those little heads

[WOwen15778@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-06-25 09:51:48 EDT, you write:

<<<<<< 
 The way I've always looked at those the reasons for those "little" heads
 is is to turn the question around."Why should sauropods have heads that
 were any larger? >>
>>>>>

Robert Bakker once presented his answer at a science teacher's symposium I
attended.  According to him, Small brains = small skulls.  sauropods have
small brains simply due to the fact that they raise up on the rear legs to
get food from time to time, and also must lover their heads to drink.  The
blood pressure needed to pump blood up to a large brain would be high enough
to blow the critters head off when it lowered its head to drink.  

Therefore, small brain = lower blood pressure.  Giraffes dealt with the same
problem by evolving a network of capillaries called the rete (Is that right?)
to compensate for the blood pressure changes.

Any other opinions?

Walt