Re: sauropod nostrils

[Richard W Travsky <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>]

On Mon, 30 Aug 1999, k. clay wrote:
> I find Carlo's suggestion about some sauropod nostrils being placed
> superiorly to facilitate cerebral oxygenation provocative, but I must
> say I have some concerns with this hypothesis.
> [...]
> My own best guess is in agreement with Dr. Holtz, that the nostrils were
> placed posteriorly to get out of the way of foliage so these beasts
> could eat almost continuously.--Ken Clay, M.D.

One thing I'm curious about is the affect on smelling. Many
animals sniff potential food first (except for my Aussie). The above 
leads me to think they may have been less discriminate in picking out
food, or were at least visually driven. 

Then again, smelling may not have been that important. They could well
have been capable of eating just about anything with no ill effects.