Fwd: Drinker and Oryctodromeus (was Re: Dinosaurs burrowed to keep warm)

[Lee Hall <lhall@montana.edu>]

Hey list,

I've noticed that hawks have prominent 'palpebral' bones.  Anyone here
have an idea as to the function(s) they provide?  Protection for
large, bulbous eyes?  Muscle stabilization?

Lee


On 3/21/07, Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au> wrote:
> Tim Williams writes:
> > Bakker has noted that _Drinker_ lacked ossified tendons, and suggested
> > that that a flexible tail would be useful for a burrow dweller.  The
> > taphonomic evidence of burrow-dwelling in _Drinker_ hasn't appeared in
> > print AFAIK - though Bakker has apparentlly mentioned it more than once.
> >
> > http://dml.cmnh.org/1998Mar/msg00313.html
> >
> > Given the discovery of _Oryctodromeus_, the idea that _Drinker_ was a
> > burrowing "hypsilophodont" will undoubtedly be viewed in a new light_.
> > Drinker_ would extend this behaviour back to the Late Jurassic.
>
> Perhaps burrow-dwelling is primitive for hypsies, or even basal ornithopods?
> I've read that Heterodontosaurids lacked stiffening tendons in their tails.
>
> Those 'eyelid bones' above the eyes would also have provided good protection
> from collapsing burrow material (or just plain bumping their head on the
> ceiling).
>
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Dann Pigdon
> GIS / Archaeologist         http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
> Melbourne, Australia        http://heretichides.soffiles.com
> ___________________________________________________________________

--
Lee Hall
Paleontology Undergraduate,
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
lhall@montana.edu