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Sexual Dimorphism (was : Defunct genera and _Pekinosaurus galtoni_)
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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