Re: Sauropods and those little heads

["Michael" <tons@ccs.netside.com>]

> Date:          Thu, 26 Jun 1997 10:27:53 -0500 (CDT)
> From:          Mark Sumner <range@inlink.com>
> To:            Michael <tons@ccs.netside.com>
> Cc:            WOwen15778@aol.com, dinosaur@usc.edu
> Subject:       Re: Sauropods and those little heads

> On Thu, 26 Jun 1997, Michael wrote:
> > Yes, they had small heads because they had small brains because they 
> > had not evolved larger ones with neocortex. Period. This applys to 
> > all dinosaurs, not just those with long necks.   
> 
> I think it's clear that there's a little more than brain size involved in
> determining the size of a head.  After all, Giganotosaurus has a very
> large head, and it's not a particularly brainy critter.  Heck, a cow has a
> bigger head than me, and I would hope that I manage a slightly larger
> brain. 
>  
> Clearly, all dinosaurs did -not- have small heads, or even small heads
> relative to body size.  The very small heads of sauropods is a specialized
> condition.  How such creatures reached this condition is well worth a
> little speculation.
> 
> Mark Sumner
> 
> 
> 
Yes, and it's likely to be mechanical.  Why have any more weight out 
there than necessary.  And you are right about head bone structure 
being more complex than housing brains.  I was merely replying to the 
obvious fact that dinosaurs had small brains.  The more mastication 
or ripping, etc not to mention tusks, the more bone mass needed for 
those muscles to attach to.  Clearly large sauropods only needed 
small heads to house small brains and didn't need muscles of 
mastication, etc.

As always, this is only an opinion, subject to
retraction and recall without notice, and with 
due respect to others opinions.

Thanks,

Michael Teuton MD