THE DINOSAURS

Press, 22 February 1977, Page 14

THE DINOSAURS

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Apatosaurus — formerly called/ Brontosaurus. He was 23m to 27m long, and when scientists first found his bones they named him Brontosaurus, or Thunder Lizard, as they thought that so huge a crealure must have caused the ground to rumble when he walked about. Yet, his head was tiny, and inside his mouth were 24 weak, peg-shaped teeth. When he was feeding. Apatosaurus must ha\ e stretched out his long nick and used his teeth like a rake to pull in soft plants growing i*»ar the water. Like those other giant plant-eaters, Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus, Apatosaurus had only a tiny brain. However, along the spinal cord many giant dinosaurs had a knot of nerve cells called ganglia that controlled their legs and tail. This was helpful.» If, for example, Apatosaurus's tail were grabbed by an enemy, he would receive a danger signal from these nerve cells. This was more efficient than receiving a message from the brain which was situated much further away.

Apatosaurus net er moved far from the uater and sought safely there when his enemy, the meat-eating Allosaurus, came in sight. This terrible creature is featured next week.