Re: Belly Ribs and Breathing

["ptnorton" <ptnorton@msn.com>]

 > I wish I knew the details of the contact between sets of gastralia; it
could be illuminating in this discussion.<

The articulated gastral basket of a Dromaeosaur [IGM 100/985] is described
in detail (with great photos) in:

Norrell and Markovicky (1997). Important features of the dromaeosaur
skeleton: information from a new specimen. American Museum Novitates, #3215.

In writing about the gastralia found in that specimen the authors state
"Th(e) perpendicular coupling between the intrasegmental and intersegmental
articulations suggests that longitudinal sliding in the segments was
translated into a rotational movement between segments at their distal ends,
which has been suggested as an improtant constituent of the theropod
respiratory cycle."

An earlier article (cited by Norrel) is:

Claessens (1996). Dinosaur gastralia and their function in respiration." JVP
16 (suppl. to 3): 28A.

I think the Dromaeosaur described in Norrell's article has since been named,
so there may be more about it in some later publication.

PTN