Re: follow-up on sauropods

[JAMES SUTTON <SUTTON.JAMES@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV>]

Dwarfism is a common adaptation of large animals on islands.  Is it an
adaptation to reduced food availability and competition therefor?  Maybe
not, because giantism is also another feature of island animals. Komodo
Dragon, e.g.

Wiwaxia

>>> Richard W Travsky <rtravsky@uwyo.edu> 06/04/98 03:17pm >>>
On Thu, 4 Jun 1998, Betty Cunningham wrote:
> not necessarily true.  mammals also grow stunted with
less-than-adequate
> food.  with NO food, yes, starvation takes its toll but with less than
> what is required the animal simply doesn't grow well and is weaker and
> less-likley to breed than more robust specimens.

A good and pertinent example of this would be the recently discovered
extinct population of dwarf mammoths frmo that island off the ALaskan
area.

Rich