RE: DINOSAUR digest 1053

["Mortensen, Bruce" <Bruce_Mortensen@affymax.com>]

I would include a short segment on the mammalian colonization of the sea,
because so many groups that made the attempt.   In addition to the lineages
that survive today, there were some extremely bizarre forms that have been
found.   I'm thinking of the aquatic giant sloth from either Peru or Chile,
mentioned in Nature within the last couple of years, and of course, the ever
popular Desmostylus.   Desmostylus was a large herbivore with hollow teeth
that resembled packets of enamel drinking straws.   It was not particularly
well adapted for either swimming or moving about on land, and is thought to
have lived in estuaries where it could munch on sea grass, rather than the
rocky coasts.   Very strange, but it existed, and was successful enough to
leave fossils around the north Pacific rim.   (The best one I know of was
found at Stanford when they were excavating the foundation for the linear
accelerator.   It is on display at SLAC, but I don't think the particle
physicists are very impressed.)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: dinosaur@usc.edu [SMTP:dinosaur@usc.edu]
>   Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 13:53:01 +0100
> From: Dan Tapster <dan.tapster@bbc.co.uk>
> To: "'dinosaur@usc.edu'" <dinosaur@usc.edu>
> Subject: BBC Mammals
> Message-ID:
> <41072AD47896D111B4410000F8C2646B012DB644@sthbsxu01.bs.bbc.co.uk>
> 
> > Dear Palaeontologists,
> > 
> I wonder if anyone out there can help me.  I work for the BBC Natural
> History Unit which along with Sir David Attenborough are embarking on a
> new
> ten part series on Mammals. Over the next three years we hope to film some
> of the most exciting stories and behaviours of Mammals all over the world.
> 
> 
> As always, we are dependent on help and advice from scientists and
> amateurs,
> and would appreciate any ideas or thoughts you may have with regards to
> the
> first episode:  'The Pioneers' intends to somewhat race through the origin
> and evolution of mammals.  We intend to use several computer-generated
> reconstructions of now extinct mammal-like reptiles and mammals.  I was
> wondering if anyone answer the following question for me:
> 
> If you could re-create certain extinct animals for this series,  which
> would
> you chose and why? 
> 
> For instance  it is highly likely that Megazostrodon will make the final
> cut, but what of the others...Uintatherium, Indricotherium, Syndtoceras
> and
> Glyptodons are reasonably unusual compared to extant mammals.
> 
> If you have any suggestions please feel free to contact me at any time. I
> look forward to hearing from some of you soon.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Dan Tapster
> 
> BBC Natural History Unit
> Broadcasting House
> Whiteladies Road
> Bristol BS8 2LR
> 
> Tel.   0117-973 2211
> Fax.: 0117-946 7384
> e-mail:  dan.tapster@bbc.co.uk
> 
> 
>