GEOL 305 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Sauropoda, Sichuan, Diplodocoidea
4 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Sophisticated physiological changes for large size evolve early, w/ little change afterward for 140 my. Teeth w/ simple crowns that were triangular, spatulate (camarasaurus), or slender & pencil-like (diplodocus) Tend to be delicately built w/ large natural openings (fenestrae); probably due to lighten skull size since it was positioned @ end of very long neck. External nares (nostrils) positioned not at end of snout, but further up, some as far as above eyes. Lightness w/ strength emphasized in long neck, which has a complex system of girders & air pockets. Important part of structure was y-shaped neural arches on vertebrae. Within y would have a nuchal ligament. Pillar-like limbs & bones of limbs were denser than bones in upper part of skeleton. Very large & robust pelvis to be able to support weight / move. Front feet were digitigrade (like walking / standing on fingertips), w/ fingers arranged in a horse-shoe shaped semi-circle; 1st digit had large claw.
