Re: Rearing to Rear (Was "3 reasons to visit the Field Museum")

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

Sam Barnett writes: 

> While we're on the subject of Brachiosaur postures - what are the
> current prevailing opinions on sauropod mating?

They definitely did it. Well, unless they were all parthenogenic females... 

Seriously though; they may have used a similar method to that of some whales 
(like humpbacks), whereby an enormously long and dexterous penis was able to 
circumvent any awkward obstacles. In that way they'd have only had to sidle 
up to each other within 'penis range', and could have remained on all fours. 

Male humpbacks are really a sight to behold in the mating season. Often a 
female will reject their advances and roll onto her back at the surface, 
with her vent in the air. A really large male can still mate with her 
though, by getting alongside and rolling onto his own back, then sending his 
weirdly mobile penis off to explore by itself. 

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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist         http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
Melbourne, Australia        http://heretichides.soffiles.com
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