THE SIZE OF ANIMALS.
In the fossil fauna we find species vastly larger in size than their congeners now living. A number of possible causes for this have been suggested, only to be laid aside as highly improbable. Even now aquatic animals reach a. very considerable size, as, for instance, in the case of the whale, and it is suggested that this may be in part due to the buoyancy of the water, which, as it were, counteracts gravity and renders large animals more mobile than they could be on. terra firma. It might therefore be supposed that in past geological ages the weight of bodies on the earth was less than to-day, and thus enabled large animals to make a successful fight for existence in circumstances in which they could not now survive. As a possible cause of increased weight iri our present epoch it is pointed out that the earth formerly revolved faster and that hence centrifugal action was greater.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ROTWKG19130521.2.46
Bibliographic details
Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 21 May 1913, Page 7
Word Count
162THE SIZE OF ANIMALS. Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 21 May 1913, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in