Shortage of nerves for _Diplodocus_ proboscis

[gerarus@westnet.com.au]

This just out:

Knoll, F., P. M. Galton & R. Lopez-Antonanzas. 2006.
Paleoneurological evidence against a proboscis in the sauropod
dinosaur _Diplodocus_. Geobios 39 (2): 215-221.

"The dinosaur Diplodocus has a single, relatively large external bony
narial orifice that is positioned far back between the orbits. In
some mammals, such as elephants and tapirs, the caudal position of
the narial opening is associated with a proboscis, so it has been
suggested that Diplodocus possibly also had a trunk. In elephants,
the facial nerve is large as it emerges from the brain. A branch of
this nerve and a branch of the trigeminal nerve unite to form the
proboscidial nerve that supplies the muscles of the powerful and
complex motor system of the trunk. In contrast to the situation in
modern elephants, the absolute as well as the relatively small size
of the facial nerve in Diplodocus (deduced from an endocranial cast)
indicates that there is no paleoneuroanatomical evidence for the
presence of an elephant-like proboscis in this genus."

    Cheers,

        Christopher Taylor