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| Function of A. atokensis spines? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 21 2015, 09:29 PM (1,687 Views) | |
| TheFatCharlatan | Jul 21 2015, 09:29 PM Post #1 |
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Unicellular Organism
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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: ![]() Bison: ![]() |
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| FishFossil | Aug 17 2015, 09:06 AM Post #16 |
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Herbivore
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^ This seems likely. The only thing is, this would mean that all currently known acrocanthosaur material would be from males. Especially if they were sexual display structures. The question then is, what would the females look like? Would they also possess these sails, albeit smaller? Or would they be nonexistent in the females? |
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| Dilophosaurus | Aug 18 2015, 06:05 AM Post #17 |
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Autotrophic Organism
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The spinal ridge almost certainly was used to anchor more muscle. Though given the relative uniformity in size and shape, I doubt it was very important for anything in particular. More likely it was for display, though maybe it improved its balance or general athleticism. A sail is unlikely, as it's rather short: only a few times taller than in Carcharodontosaurus. Fat storage is even more unlikely, as no skeletal support is needed for a fat hump. Or rather, by the time skeletal support *is* needed, you already have a morbidly obese theropod on your hands that probably couldn't hunt effectively and is liable to overheat on a mildly warm summer day. |
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9:39 AM Jul 11