Sauropods, Elephants, Weightlifters Structural Issues by Wayne Throop [Text Last Updated: June 27, 1995] [Links Updated: March 27, 2003] Ted has advanced arguments on two areas of sauropod structure: Necks Limbs Ted has traditionally dismissed that any difference in limb structure between human and sauropod could be a significant factor. We can at least partly quantify that amount of leverage. It would be the ratios of the Holden Numbers of the two cases. Thus, We can see that the maximum projected mass in 1g goes up as the cube of this leverage factor. Further note that the sauropod limbs don't need to be as heavily muscled as Kazmaier's, because the sauropod has four limbs and Kazmaier is employing only two. Thus the above is assuming limbs far less muscular than Kazmaier's. In fact, given that leverage factor, each limb would need only half the muscle cross section compared to Kazmaier's leg. And finally, note that Ted's estimate of 360,000 lbs mass for ultrasaur is distinctly larger than any currently accepted figure. It was done via linear projection of a few vertebrae, not even a remotely complete skeleton, and in [tD] and [KoC], | |
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