Comments on: Inside Sauropod Armor

By: Sclerophanax

Sclerophanax — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:59:55 +0000

Would a female Rapetosaurus have had medullary bone like birds and (other) theropods? If not, then resorption of the osteoderms might be more gender-specific, or conversely the females might have had larger osteoderms because of the need to store more minerals than males.

I also agree with Doug’s idea. The large adult would probably have had less use for armor around the hip area, so those osteoderms could well have been “recycled” for a different use even if they were needed for protection in the young ones.

By: peart & associates inc

peart & associates inc — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:26:11 +0000

Inside Sauropod Armor,a very interesting article. I share the same thoughts as Doug, armor function in the youth stages. Thanks

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:26:53 +0000

maybe it was meant to function as armor in the juvenile stage. You said that the juvie’s armor was solid. It would make some sense, since that’s the time they were most vulnerable. Just more meaningless speculation on my part.

By: Chilly

Chilly — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:24:09 +0000

A story about this was on the front page of the local Twin Cities newspaper today. The paleontologist is from a college in St. Paul, thus the local angle.

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/134725533.html

By: Heinrich Mallison

Heinrich Mallison — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:57:45 +0000

way cool! Now I just want to know if there is medullary bone to be found in sauropods.