[Rockhounds] Dinosaur National Monument

[DonH]

Pmodreski at aol.com wrote:

>  (I realize that in reality, the
> curved-back back is probably from the way they curl up as the corpse dehydrates  & 
> shrinks. 


Here's a good one: there was a recent paper published that makes a very 
compelling case that the opisthotonic posture (i.e., curled backward) is 
due to illness before death, not post-mortem contraction.  The author 
came to visit during our seminar series and showed us a number of 
examples and explained the reasons why this could not be a post-mortem 
phenomenon.  She is a veterinarian, not a paleontologist, so her paper 
was based on her considerable experience with dead and dying animals as 
well as a number of experiments she performed on birds (much to the 
dismay of her husband, who disliked the stench of rotting bird carcasses 
in the garage).

http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1666%2F06015.1&ct=1&SESSID=4a3f752c3590e1cfc4e3dd93dcd25e1b

She made quite a believer out of everyone in the audience.  By the way, 
this phenomenon also occurs in humans who have thiamine deficiency, and 
it is a disturbing sight (she showed a photo).  Almost as disturbing was 
a photo of a live chicken with this affliction.

best,
Don