The even more enigmatic taphonomy of Sauroposeidon
April 1, 2010
Update
This is an actual page from the late, lamented Weekly World News, from December 14, 1999. I always thought it was pretty darned funny that they had the alien remains discovered in the “belly” of an animal known only from neck vertebrae. Now, subjecting a tabloid story to technical scrutiny really is like dancing about architecture, but…it just tickles me. As does the entire story. I haven’t been able to get hold of Dr. Posvby to confirm his findings, but it’s been over a decade and he still hasn’t published, so I’m not holding my breath.
Incidentally, the WWN archives are available on Google Books: go here to read about Bat Boy siring a 3-headed alien Elvis baby on a female Sasquatch. Or something to that effect.
Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week 
April 1, 2010 at 6:53 am
And yet this remains more accurate than much, if not most, ‘science’ journalism. For a start they got the taxon name right….
April 1, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Isn’t that alien skull the same as the ones present in Indy’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?
George Lucas & Steven Spielberg released this information before their next sequel “Indiana Jones and the enigmatic Sauroposeidon”. Indy losses his wip and replaces it with a sauropod tail… (what? is less beliable than escaping from an atomic bomb in a freezer?)
April 2, 2010 at 10:11 am
Yes, the guys who do this work are really, really smart. Seriously. Do you recognise the skull? It’s one of the most famous objects in the history of science.
April 2, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Wait, you mean there are sauropod bones other than vertebrae? I feel betrayed.
I have to admit I’d be just as enthralled with a “Sauropod Cervical Vertebrae POW” blog. “Sauropod Cervical Vertebra Parazygapophyses POW” might be over the line, but there is no way ever to be sure.
April 2, 2010 at 7:34 pm
You have ascended to the highest level of enlightenment. Sadly, the world is not ready for the deeper learning that you propose. I fear another age must pass before mankind awakens.
May peace be upon your vertebral contemplation.
April 3, 2010 at 7:42 am
I thought you guys might enjoy this post by Emile at ‘The World We Don’t Live In’: http://eobasileus.blogspot.com/2010/04/sauropod-stench-drove-morphological.html
April 4, 2010 at 7:29 pm
@Mike from Ottawa:
One of the statements in the article was:
“Was Shunosaurus an early experiment in tail scent glands?”
This might help shed some light on the Mamenchisaurus club…
April 11, 2010 at 1:34 am
Sent you an email, Matt.
May 3, 2010 at 2:50 pm
[…] about architecture,” observes SV-POW! Nonetheless, Matt Wedel can’t resist the temptation to point out the inaccuracies in this classic Weekly World News […]