Re: [RE: [RE: [Re: Sauropod Trunks]]]

[archosaur@usa.net]

> > Dwight.Stewart@VLSI.com wrote:
>       ######################################################

>       Point taken, but still much shorter than many tall living birds &
 mammals.  But I have seen Galapagos tortoises doing what you are describing.

>       ###############################################

Actually, compared to body size, Galapagos tortoises (saddlebacked versions)
have the longest necks compared to body size of any extant animal minus the
side-necked turtles. 

As far as I know side-necked turtles keep their necks at around the same
height as their bodies.

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> 

> > Now when moving, their heads become more level to their bodies, but when

> > at

> > rest or surveying the terrain, they keep their necks held high. I could

> > see

> > the same for sauropods. Keeping the neck rather low while walking and then

> > high while resting and feeding.

>       #################################################

> 

>       Yes, but I think there was probably species variation.  I think

> Diplodocidae were very likely to walk this way.  It's more difficult to
envision a Brachiosaurus doing this.

>       ####################################################

Yeah, I agree.

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> 

> > Then of course their is the ever so strange Tanystropheus and

> > Keichousaurs.

> > Have to wonder how they positioned those necks and how they kept the blood

> > flow going.

> > 

> > All these questions.

>       ########################################

> 

>       You've picked two fascinating creatures there! :-)  Has it ever been
decided if Tanystropheus is a kind of primitive Euryapsid or not?  

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Last I heard, Tanystropheus is classified as an archosauromorph.

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It DOES have a LONGGG neck!  I know next to nothing about
the Keichousaurus, except that it was found in Triassic starita in
> China.  I assume it had a long neck too?

Dwight

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Keichousaurus had a neck that consisted of some 20+ cervical vertebrae. Other
than that and it's location, I haven't been able to find much on these guys. 

They seem to be very popular with fossil dealers, which is sad to note.

The theories surrounding that neck seem to state that these lizards were
aquatic and, who knows, maybe even precursors to plesiosaurs in lifestyle.

>From what I've seen of the skeletons, they look like their forelimbs were
longer than the hindlimbs, which would have given that neck more support if it
were fishing on a shore.

Another interesting thing to note is that while Keichousaurus had some 20 or
so cervics, Tanystropheus had around 10. Have to wonder why an animal with
such a long neck, would have such an inflexible one.

Archosaur J

Jurassosaurus's Reptipage: A page devoted to the study of the reptilia

http://members.tripod.com/~jurassosauridae/index.html

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