Cyclical growth in the long limb bones of a sauropod dinosaur
Armand de Riqlès
Structures indicative of cyclical growth are described for the first time in a long limb bone of a half-grown sauropod dinosaur. This provides a mean by which age and growth rate are tentatively assessed. The significance of the findings in terms of sauropod physiology is discussed and it is concluded that the data are accordant with an imperfect mass homeothermy and incipient (mass) endothermy as a model of sauropod physiology.
Key words: bone histology, growth, paleophysiology, Dinosauria, Sauropoda.
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