Re: cause of Gigantism in sauropods

["Habib, Michael" <MHabib@Chatham.edu>]

I recommend "comparative biomechanics" by S. Vogel (2003). There is also a good 
book on bone as a material by Currey.  It occurs to me that compiling a list of 
good mechanics books/papers for paleontologists might be quite helpful for many 
- anyone else here have particular favorites?

--MH

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 13, 2011, at 10:21 AM, "Augusto Haro" <augustoharo@gmail.com> wrote:

> 2011/2/13 Augusto Haro <augustoharo@gmail.com>:
> 
>> Gregory Paul (in Predatory Dinosaurs of the World) indicated
>> that theropod bones are denser than in other dinosaurs; if this is
>> true for sauropods: can the animal with less dense bone, in virtue of
>> its greater velocity, break the denser bones of its antagonist easier
>> than getting his own bones broken?
> 
> Although, perhaps the sauropod is to be less harmed if hitting a
> smaller theropod with its neck because its bones are supposed to be
> thicker (theropods also have pneumatic bones)... As you can see I am
> not good in mechanics so can't decide which factor was more
> important... (and ask you please for some citation of a good or
> fundamental introductory book on material mechanics of use in
> vertebrate biology).
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Augusto.