Theropod Swimming (was Re: Thick Tyrannosaur Bones)

["Jordan Mallon" <j_mallon@hotmail.com>]

> From: "Steve  Brusatte" <dinoland@lycos.com>

> What I was trying to get at is that the overall morphology of 
> >Tyrannosaurus doesn't necessarily reflect the body of a swimmer, 
> >although it isn't impossible.

Hmmm... I'm suddenly reminded of a quote from Greg Paul's _Predatory 
Dinosaurs of the World_:

"In fact, the long, slender toes, powerful limbs, and supple tails show that 
theropods were _better_ at mud walking and swimming than the 
stumpier-footed, stiffer-tailed herbivores... Most theropods probably swam 
with their hind limbs and a sculling action of the tail.  Because the chest 
was filled with lungs, they swam hip-heavy, with the head held clear of the 
water."

At any rate, I know the sense in which your were implying your above 
comment, Steve.  I just wanted to once again emphasize the fact that 
theropods were likely better swimmers then they were once credited to be.  
(And please note that I'm not overly sure how well the above quote 
translates over to the tetanurans.  Were their tails so stiff that their 
swimming abilities might have been considerably inhibited?)

-Jordan Mallon

http://www.geocities.com/paleoportfolio/

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