Chapter 29, Problem 27A

Summary Introduction

To Infer:

The meaning of curled-up position of the bodies of the dinosaurs found in their nests.

Introduction:

The curling up of young ones by birds is for preserving heat required by them for growing and doing all the activities important in the growth.

Explanation of Solution

Biologists know that the young of modern birds curl up their bodies in their nests to conserve body heat. Recently, fossil of dinosaurs’ young have been found in a curled position in their nests. This particular line of dinosaurs is one with a direct lineage to birds. The curled-up position might mean that the bodies of the dinosaurs are the ancestors of bird and these birds have evolved from them. Although as per some paleontologists the curled position of the fossil can be because of the contortion (opisthotonic posture) that happens because of the death by poisoning or shortage of oxygen in the brain that makes neck and tail to curl up. Other inferred meaning is that the pose is formed after the death when immersed in water the muscles and ligaments moves and pull the head and tail.

As not necessarily that the fossil found belongs to the young ones of the dinosaur.

Conclusion

The curled-up position might mean that the bodies of the dinosaurs are the ancestors of bird. These birds have evolved from them and so they also used to preserve the heat of the body by curling-up themselves.