Re: largest dinosaur

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/28/01 8:54:25 PM EST, gasperex@hotmail.com writes:

<< The largest dinosaur is Argentinosaurus measuring about 114 feet long and 
80 to 100 tons. And the second largest and most recent giant is Paralititan 
which would be around 90 to 100 feet long and 70 to 80 tons. >>

These "measurements" are not measurements, they're >estimates<. We don't have 
enough of the skeletons of either genus to be able to measure their lengths, 
and we don't have the living animals in hand to measure their weights. Based 
on Cope's drawing of the type neural arch of Amphicoelias fragillimus, and 
assuming it was built like a diplodocid sauropod, we can >estimate< its 
length at nearly 200 feet (about 60 meters--presuming it had the diplodocid 
whiplash tail) and its mass at more than 100 metric tons. These are the 
largest dinosaur size estimates based on fossil skeletal material I've seen 
to date.

Regarding trackways--somewhere on this list, or maybe elsewhere, I've seen 
reports of huge sauropod tracks from Australia that are supposed to be a 
couple of meters across. This would represent an animal in the size range of 
Amphicoelias fragillimus described above. Anyone know any more about these 
tracks?