Sexual Dimorphism (was : Defunct genera and _Pekinosaurus galtoni_)

["Rob Gay" <rob_redwing@hotmail.com>]

> Problem is skeletal morphology alone tends to understate diversity; it's 
> all too easy to ascribe all kinds of morphological differences to 
> individual variation, ontogeny, sexual dimorphism (to cite the usual three 
> culprits).<

In ammonites, there is a solid case for sexual dimorphism and I believe 
there is a pretty strong case for it in _Coelophysis_ _bauri_, using neck 
vs. torso length, limb ratios and skull lengths. Perhaps this type of data 
could be applied to other closely related theropods (which is actually work 
that I am in the process of doing right now). But, unless there is a 
significant population sample to draw data from (like the Ghost Ranch 
quarry), then speculation on individual variation is just that, speculation.
Peace,
Rob

Student of Geology
Northern Arizona University
P.O. Box 20840
Flagstaff, Az. 86011
AIM: TarryAGoat

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