Plesiosaur necks (was Sauropods and lung development)

["Ralph Miller III" <gbabcock@best.com>]

 Philidor11@aol.com writes:
> Mr. Norton writes that 'The predatory advantage of having the head at the
end
> of a long and flexible neck is as yet unproven...'
> Wouldn't a long, flexible neck be advantageous for a predator with prey
which
> could shift direction quickly such as fish or small mammals?  I'm
thinking of
> plesiosaurs in addition to various birds.  I've wondered why each seemed
to
> have small heads; seems that a wider net might catch more prey.

Just as it is easier to swing a long, flexible neck quickly through the
water than to quickly maneuver the none-too-petite plesiosaur body after
prey, there will be much less resistance to swiftly moving the small head
(as opposed to a wider head) through the water.  Like the fishing birds to
which you refer, the plesiosaur design is apparently better suited for a
speedy plucking of individual items, as opposed to the "fish net" approach
you suggest.

-- Ralph Miller III     gbabcock@best.com