The physics of being a dinosaur.

Has anyone read the book Cradle of Saturn by James P. Hogan?

There is a small section in this book that piqued my interest and curiosity. The lead character of the book was discussing a science project with a youngster (it's been a while since I read this, so it may be a little off on details), whom is sort of a child prodigy. But several factoids were mentioned that certainly do puzzle me whenever I think about them.

Considering the mass of the largest of the dinosaurs, and the stresses on the skeletal structure and muscles of something like a Brontasaurus stretching out that long neck and supporting all of that weight, is it even feasible that such animals could exist on Earth today, as is?

Of course this was a science fiction book, and I honestly never even attempted to try to follow up on any further information on this sort of thing, but I do have to admit that when I look at the skeletons of dinosaus in museums, I can't help but feel that something is wrong with the entire picture.

BTW, James P. Hogan always writes in such a way to make my brain stretch into unusual directions. Well worth reading his work if you are into that sort of stuff.

Ah, the things one will think about while doing mindless cleaning and feeding of baby snakes....

Rich,

that's actually an interesting point you bring up.

There are actually several versions floating around of a theory that basically states that earth's gravity was not as strong during the mesozoic as it is today. I personally don't buy that idea, but it is one that has been floating around to kind of explain why so many species of archosaurs reached such gargantuan proportions and why none get that big today. Interesting, but like I said, I'm not buying it.

There is also another one about the higher oxygen content of the period allowing larger size.

I personally think that large sauropods most definitely could survive with their body plan in today's atmospheric environment. Remember, the skeleton is the base, but not the only thing supporting those long necks and massive bulks. There are walls of flesh and connective tissues in the works as well. Also, sauropods generally speaking worked on the suspension bridge plan. The legs planted fairly close together with the long neck and tail supporting each other.

Now, I think that they would have the ability to survive in modern times, but DO they survive in modern time? I think not, though it would be pretty darn cool if they did.

There's been new research into how saurpod's necks were put together. The ones with really long necks, like Apatosaurs and Diplodocus basically stretched their necks horizontally. Only animals with shorter, stouter necks like Brachiosaurus and Camerosaurus held their necks close to vertically. So the really big sauropods didn't have to hold ALL that neck up. Tyrannosaurus, Gigonotosaurus and Characodontosaurus were probably stretching the limits of physics, but biologists have very good mathmatical models for how much weight bone can hold up and such, and if they were impossible we'd hear about it more... especially from creationists. Lastly, don't forget that there were huge mammals that lived more recently, like the giant sloth Megalotherium and the big.. um.. I forget the word.. Indicotherium/Baulchitherium.

Erin B. who read the Dinosaur Heresies many times and could sadly type all that from memory.

As far as creationist are concerned..... Did you know that there is a stone age rock carving in a cave in France that shows a Mammoth type animal butting heads with what looks like a T. Rex? I've seen the pictures. The cave is off limits to tourists but a nearby cave that doesn't have any rock carvings is open to the public.

I'd sure like someone to explain that to me. It's no prank.