Re: Dinosaur tail dragging

["James R. Cunningham" <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

If the animal is structurally equipped to use his rear legs as a kingpost and
simultaneously resist the tail moment with ligaments or tendons (as opposed to
muscle power) in tension along or near the top of the vertebrae, then carrying
the tail off the ground would be far less expensive.  If the tail has to be
supported by muscle power, then the energetics of carrying vs. dragging would
vary from animal to animal and moment to moment (no pun intended -- at least,
no good pun).
Best wishes,
JimC

> -------------------- Begin Original Message --------------------
>
> Message text written by INTERNET:PTJN@aol.com
>
> "
>  A question for Jerry or for some engineers out there (Jim Cunningham?):
> Would
> it be energetically less expensive for an animal like a large sauropod to
> hold
> its tail off the ground or to drag it? "
>
> -------------------- End Original Message --------------------