Re: Saurophaganax questions

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

> From: dexter dexter <dexter1647@caramail.com>

> > I've still got a doubt... Should I call it Allosaurus maximus or 
> >Saurophaganax maximus?

It's generally considered to be a large species of _Allosaurus_, now.

> > Do we have more than just fragmentary remains?

Nope.  Although there's apparently some undescribed stuff out there...

> > How big were the claws, I heard they had the biggest claws of any 
> >dinosaur (now if that's not a big title...).

I believe that title still belongs to _Therizinosaurus_.  I haven't any 
specific claw measurements.

> > Based on Allosaurus (or other remains), how big was it? Some say 11 
> >meters, some say 14.

I've read some 12.5 m.  Who knows, at this point.

> > How heavy? Again, some say 5 tonnes, others say 3 (I know weight 
> >estimates are controversial, but there must be a method that is more 
> >trusted by professionals than another).

Kind of a moot question, based on such little remains.  Might've been 
heavier than _T. rex_, though (5-7 tonnes).

> but what about the lenght of the arms (again, based on allosaurus or the 
> claws)...

Don't have anything on me.

> what about the lenght of the skull? I always though allosaurs had 
> >proportionally small skulls (for large theropods).

Why?  The entire skull hasn't been found yet.

> > Finally, would it be unreasonable -- given the lightly built frames >of 
> allosaurs -- to think this was a very fastanimal, possibly the >fastest of 
> forty-footers?

Given that they weren't as well built for speed as similar sized 
tyrannosaurids... who knows?????????????

> Lots of questions, I know, but they've been buggin' me for a while now.

Well, I'm sure the lack of indefinite answers will bug you even more!

Jordan Mallon

http://www.geocities.com/paleoportfolio/
AIM: jslice mallon

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