So claims a researcher whose work will be published in the Journal of Zoology, Dinosaurs shed a few tons in science makeover:
"We have found that the statistical model is seriously flawed and the giant dinosaurs probably were only about half as heavy as is generally believed."
The research does not suggest that dinosaurs were shorter in length or height. These dimensions are clear from the size of their bones. Instead, Packard's work challenges the depiction of many giant herbivores. Until now they have been shown as well-rounded, powerful animals, when they are more likely to have been skinny and muscular.
I remember reading stuff in grade school in really old books about how sauropods spent most of their time in water they were so massive. So times change. But nevertheless it seems a bit disappointing that the biggest land creatures in the history of the world weren't quite as big.
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Yeah, but on the other hand, faster...
I liked one of the comments even more than the story "...all those millionaire paleontologists milking us for all we've got..."
But just as long, and just as tall.
The late Octave Levenspiel, a distinguished Chemical Engineer, enjoyed pointing out that the traditional picture of the size of dinosaurs was infeasible - the creatures would have cooked themselves.
I can hear Cartman now, "I'm not massive, I'm just big boned."
Perhaps we're projecting our obesity problem onto them as they can't object.
Googling reveals that Prof Levenspiel is still thriving. Apologies.