Comparison of body mass estimation techniques, using Recent reptiles and the pelycosaurEdaphosaurus boanerges

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Body mass estimation is important for the study of relative brain size, biomechanics, and other physiological and ecological aspects of extinct vertebrates. Body mass of Edaphosaums boanerges (ROM 7985), a mounted skeleton with a fibreglass model built around the left side was estimated by various methods: (1) Graphic Double Integration (GDI) on the fibreglass model divided into measurable components; (2) regression equations using total body length (TL), snout-vent length, and TL and tail-girth (TG); (3) three QBASIC programs which predict body mass from leg bone dimensions (humerus, ulna, femur and tibia) using regression equations from Recent amniotes; specifically: lengths and parasagittal diameters in mammals; lengths and mediolateral and anteroposterior diameters in alligators; and lengths and circumferences in alligators; and (4) prediction from an equation relating body mass to femur and humerus circumferences. GDI yielded 92.79 kg (including fin volume of 3.57 kg), within the body mass range of alligators on which leg-bone equations were based. The estimate from alligator-based TL and TG was 75.05 kg. Estimates from leg bone dimensions were 17.85 kg from lengths and diameters (mammal-based); 73.33 kg from lengths and diameters (alligator-based), although estimates from humerus and femur, humerus alone and femur alone bracketed the GDI result; and 61.70 kg from lengths and circumferences (alligator-based). The fin added 66% to body surface area and only 4% to total mass.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: