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Function of A. atokensis spines?
Topic Started: Jul 21 2015, 09:29 PM (1,688 Views)
TheFatCharlatan
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Acrocanthosaurus atokensis is well-known for its vertebrae, which are quite tall for a dinosaur of its size and type. I've only heard one hypothesis as to what the spines were used for. The hypothesis is that the spines provided a framework for more muscle mass, allowing for very powerful dorsal/neck muscles (some animals have this today, ex. the American bison). Have there been any other proposals as to the spines' function, and what are these proposals?

Acro:
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Bison:
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Grimace
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Definitely anchors for massive peacocklike display feathers.
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TheFatCharlatan
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Quote:
 
Definitely anchors for massive peacocklike display feathers.


I could see this. Very threatening.
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Attachments: Acrocanthosaurus_skin.jpg (91.53 KB)
Edited by TheFatCharlatan, Jul 22 2015, 12:05 AM.
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FishFossil
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This is my own hypothesis and view on this question. I don't feel the sail is really big enough to function well enough as a thermo regulatory structure. I'm not particularly sure about the muscle structure hypothesis, it seems plausible. My own hypothesis is, perhaps is held a large, fat storing hump, similar to the one camels use.
Edited by FishFossil, Jul 22 2015, 03:20 AM.
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Marek
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I have seen reconstructions of Spinosaurus possessing more of an indiscriminate hump than the traditional sail; is this a view popular among contemporary paleontologists?
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FishFossil
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Marek
Jul 22 2015, 04:16 AM
I have seen reconstructions of Spinosaurus possessing more of an indiscriminate hump than the traditional sail; is this a view popular among contemporary paleontologists?
No, it's been an idea for quite a while (even with ouranosaurus), but due to the size of their spines, and the fact their positioned far further back than in bison or camels, has led to it being an unpopular idea. The idea was also propositioned before we knew mid Cretaceous Africa was a swamp. I can see acrocanthosaurus having one though, because the spines are about half the size of spinosaurus, and are present all along the back in a uniform manner, similar to that of a camel.
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theropod
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Marek
Jul 22 2015, 04:16 AM
I have seen reconstructions of Spinosaurus possessing more of an indiscriminate hump than the traditional sail; is this a view popular among contemporary paleontologists?
The new spinosaurus findings showed indication that the top of the spines was only covered by a thin layer of tissue. It is very likely that the back would gradually taper into the base of this structure (the part with major muscle attachments) though, and not just end abruptly the way that is commonly shown.
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SpinoInWonderland
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It's possible that Acrocanthosaurus' spines simply raised the height of it's back. No sail, no hump, no ridge, just a raised back.

Well, that is, if you use the long ornithopod spines (not Ouranosaurus' though) as an analog.
Edited by SpinoInWonderland, Jul 25 2015, 09:08 PM.
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FishFossil
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SpinoInWonderland
Jul 25 2015, 09:07 PM
It's possible that Acrocanthosaurus' spines simply raised the height of it's back. No sail, no hump, no ridge, just a raised back.

Well, that is, if you use the long ornithopod spines (not Ouranosaurus' though) as an analog.
This is obviously plausible, but my question here is, what is the advantage of having a raised back? More muscle mass?
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theropod
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Precisely, that also the reson why animals have neural spines in the first place.
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DinosaurFan95
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I'd say they were fat storage units.
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Mesopredator
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But, um, if it are for muscles then what for function do those have? My guess is courtship display or just plain old sexual selection. Of course, I must speak quietly of this - it is a secret apparently. Or, more likely, I just need to be more careful in what words I express this, or it might offend the gods.
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FishFossil
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Jul 29 2015, 01:41 AM
But, um, if it are for muscles then what for function do those have? My guess is courtship display or just plain old sexual selection. Of course, I must speak quietly of this - it is a secret apparently. Or, more likely, I just need to be more careful in what words I express this, or it might offend the gods.
XD yeah, I wonder that as well, what function would the extra muscle mass have? What would it contribute towards, especially considering the spines aren't longest between the front shoulders, as in bison.
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Delude
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My money is on other Acrocanthosaurus finding them sexy and/or intimidating.
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J3st3r56
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Maybe they were used to increase the size of the animal to intimidate any rival predators that may try and take away territory or prey. Maybe the more testosterone the animal has, the larger the spines/hump, like body hair for humans.
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