Re: Gallery and Commentary for Copenhagen Mamenchisaurus

[Danvarner@aol.com]

mike@indexdata.com (Mike Taylor) writes:

<< No indeed.  The problem is that as things stand, there is _no_
meaningful published evidence either for rearing _or_ hoovering.  They
are two equally unsupported hypotheses. >>

       True, but I would have to object to the term "hoovering". I do not 
believe anyone is suggesting the long-necked sauropods were static. To me the 
long cervical series would simply cut the widest swath possible as the animal 
moved about. More acres (and food) covered per mile walked. 
       As for rearing, in the pictures I've seen it often appears as if a 
crew from Weyerhauser has come in and convieniently clear-cut a section of the 
forest so the sauropod could actually extend itself in a vertical direction 
without having to monkey with horizontal growth from nearby vegetation. God 
forbid 
they would have to make a sudden change of direction with all those tree 
trunks when the pack-hunting allosaurs appeared upon the horizon. Or perhaps it 
was a park-like situation with the trees widely spaced apart or in small groves 
and it was no big deal. Just some low-carb food for thought. DV