Advertisement.

EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site.
As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.
Click here to learn more.

ad
(Already a member? Click here.)


ZoomDinosaurs.com
CoolDino.com: Dinosaur Forums
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DINOSAUR DINO TALK:
A Dinosaur Forum
DINO SCIENCE FORUM DINO PICTURES/FICTION:
Post Your Dinosaur Pictures or Stories
The Test of Time
A Novel by I. MacPenn


Dr. Tom Holtz and Dr. Michael K. Brett-Surman
answer dinosaur questions for the readers of ZoomDinosaurs.com
:



Isn't 8 tons a hefty estimate for Spinosaurus? I though we have had some indications that this animal from the original fossils (though sadly they are no longer with us), despite its size, was quite lightly built for its length. Are we simply scaling up from a supposed six-foot skull and coming up with an estimate based on the average weights of carnosauria with that certain head size? If so, I supposed these estimates will be a little on the extreme end until more complete specimes of Spinosaurs are found and our understanding of this genera more complete.

And one more question about the arms. Correct me, but do they seem slung too low to be easily used as effective offensive weapons against large prey? I mean this was no kangeroo and rearing up to use these arms are not as easy (I'm basing this on Stroner's Spinosaurus reconstruction)? Or is Stroner mistaken?
from Leonard, age 14, ?, ?, ?; July 27, 2001

TOM: The 8 ton estimate is based on the as-yet not described extremely large specimens of Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, and scaling up from more completely known spinosaurids (Baryonyx and Suchomimus). Incidentally, Stromer's specimen was probably not fully grown (the neural arches of its backbone hadn't fused to the centra (main body of the vertebrae): this is typical in immature archosaurs).

Also, the arms of Spinosaurus would probably do more good against creatures smaller than Spinosaurus. However, please keep in mind that Stromer's reconstruction is essentially useless: he had no more complete spinosaurids (like Baryonyx and Suchomimus) to base his model on, so he wound up with a weird T. rex-Dimetrodon combination. It wasn't his fault, though, because these more complete spinosaurid fossils weren't found until much, much later.


Back to the Holtz and Brett-Surman Questions

Enchanted Learning®
Over 35,000 Web Pages
Sample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below

Overview of Site
What's New
Enchanted Learning Home
Monthly Activity Calendar
Books to Print
Site Index

K-3
Crafts
K-3 Themes
Little Explorers
Picture dictionary
PreK/K Activities
Rebus Rhymes
Stories
Writing
Cloze Activities
Essay Topics
Newspaper
Writing Activities
Parts of Speech

Fiction
The Test of Time

Biology
Animal Printouts
Biology Label Printouts
Biomes
Birds
Butterflies
Dinosaurs
Food Chain
Human Anatomy
Mammals
Plants
Rainforests
Sharks
Whales
Physical Sciences: K-12
Astronomy
The Earth
Geology
Hurricanes
Landforms
Oceans
Tsunami
Volcano
Languages
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese (Romaji)
Portuguese
Spanish
Swedish
Geography/History
Explorers
Flags
Geography
Inventors
US History

Other Topics
Art and Artists
Calendars
College Finder
Crafts
Graphic Organizers
Label Me! Printouts
Math
Music
Word Wheels

Click to read our Privacy Policy

E-mail


Enchanted Learning Search

Search the Enchanted Learning website for:



Advertisement.

Advertisement.



Copyright ©2001-2018 EnchantedLearning.com ------ How to cite a web page