Earth Sciences 2266F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Antetonitrus, Plateosaurus, Shunosaurus
6 Mar 2020
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Basal sauro prosauropods bipedal/facultative quadripedal: oldest known is saturnalia. Larger size/longer neck allow: brose higher trees, bigger guts to digest, deter predators. Plateosaurus: elong neck, enlarge nostrils, leaf teeth, downturn dentary (lower jaw) finger 1 and toes 1/2 bear large claws (dig/grappling) Sauropod: small skull relative to body (smaller than basal, even longer neck, evolution of extreme gigantism (largest dino known) Characteristics: neck was long: reach plants, predators tiny head to reduce weight with peg teeth (not for chewing just stripping) Sauropod teeth: herbivores, lack molar-teeth for chewing. Resemble front incisor teeth of modern herb used for nibbling and strip from trees. Legs & feet: pillar-like limbs with tendency towards shortening or reduction of fingers/toes. Hollow bones are characteristic features of all sauropods: reduce weight (vertebrae 60% air, house airsacs as part of extended respiratory system to deliver o2 through body. Antetonitrus, skull/neck not known but assume possessed basic characteristics reduced skull size, round snout, nostrils top of head.
