Re: Sauropod and forest dwelling

["Matthew Bonnan" <mbonnan@hotmail.com>]

Okay, okay, okay.  I've resisted the temptation long enough.  I have to say 
something about sauropods, even if just briefly (am I every brief?). =)

What I am seeing in my research is that the hind feet of sauropods, 
particularly those of diplodocids, are a bit more flexible than you would 
think.  I have seen numerous references to sauropod hind feet being immobile 
support structures or "fixed" joints.  The most colorful description I have 
seen in this regard is from the late Jim Jensen who described the 
contribution of the pes (hindfoot) to sauropod locomotion as equivalent to 
the rubber stopper on the end of a crutch. =)

Diplodocids have very flexible toes for such big animals.  How do I know 
this?  I've been articulating them every chance I have, and they do not 
compare to elephant toes.  Instead, the whole foot appears to have been 
capable of some limited sideways rocking (eversion) and up and down 
mobility.

Camarasaurs appear more limited in the their ability to move the toes and 
hind foot.  With such mobile feet, perhaps diplodocid sauropods are not as 
hydrophobic as people make them out to be.  Big, flexible feet seem ideal 
for walking in mud.  I'll leave it there for now.

The forefeet are another story entirely, and that is for another time.  
Plus, as I keep lamenting, I am writing the hind foot stuff up now as we 
speak.  There are stats involved and computer shape analysis, so compiling 
it all together is taking longer than anticipated.  Still, sauropods beat 
elephants any day (and I can say that knowing that this is a dinosaur list)! 
 Remember that reptiles, especially sauropods, represent the pinnacle of 
evolution: all efficiency with little thought. =)

Matt Bonnan


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