RE: Spinosaur crests & sails

["Rob Gay" <rob_redwing@hotmail.com>]

>     Is there any possibility that the differences between *Spinosaurus 
> aegypticus* and *S. moroccanus* represent sexual dimorphism?<
Uh oh, someone mentioned sexual dimorphism, so of course I have to jump in. 
My thoughts on this, and the validity of these species:
Based on nothing more than my gut intuition, my conversations with HP 
Mendez, and the descriptions and illustrations I've seen, I would lean 
towards sexual dimorphism. Mainly, you can't claim that _Spinosaurus 
moroccanus_ is different than _S. aegypticus_, based on teeth, because we 
don't know what the full range of teeth was like in _Spinosaurus_ in the 
first place. Until we know the degree to which there may have been 
heterodonty expressed in _Spinosaurus_, we can't say that one is different 
than the other due to dentition differences. I do have more to say on this, 
but I'm about to go out into the field for today. So, if this thread is 
still going when I get back, you'll hear more from me ;).
Peace,
Rob

Student of Geology
Northern Arizona University
Biological Science Tech
Manti-La Sal National Forest
AIM: TarryAGoat
http://www.geocities.com/elvisimposter/dinopics.html
http://www.cafepress.com/RobsDinos
"A _Coelophysis_ with feathers?"

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