there is another similarity to elephans other than their ability of thermo-regulation: elephants erect their ears to appear even bigger when charging a predator or a rival.
I'm convinced it's a combo of Display and Thermoregulation. I USED to think they were for Defense, but now I really doubt that theory because, as you said, they're in the completely wrong place to serve any defensive role at all.
Well I Imagined it as if they would naturally fall into a more horizontal position under their own weight. Not completely horizontal, but enough to confuse us as to why the plates would grow to such large sizes. To me, when I see how large the plates were combined with the knowledge that they weren't even connected to the skeleton, I find it hard to believe that they would sit fully vertical. But if they were for display, surely they wouldve stayed a size that could sit vertically?
I do think that they would use them as defense, but not in the strict sense of the word, but rather as a passive form of defense. Let me explain, these animals, in addition to having the plates, had two pairs of spines on their tail, which they effectively used as a weapon (both in conflicts with other stegosauruses and as a defense against predators), the plates could well have been used as intimidation and threat before launch an attack, in a similar way to what elephants and other animals do, the plates would serve to make the stegosaurus appear larger and more threatening and all that combined with threatening movements of the pointed and dangerous tail, would surely help the stegosaurus to keep away his enemies, only attacking in self-defense when he had no other choice
Nice video man, very informative and direct to the point.
I'm frequently use your videos to teach my brother new paleo things.
I'm glad to hear that! Thanks for the support
there is another similarity to elephans other than their ability of thermo-regulation:
elephants erect their ears to appear even bigger when charging a predator or a rival.
Keep doing what your doing. The quality of your content had me very surprised that you only have 2000 followers.
Thanks so much! I appreciate the support!
I'm convinced it's a combo of Display and Thermoregulation. I USED to think they were for Defense, but now I really doubt that theory because, as you said, they're in the completely wrong place to serve any defensive role at all.
Yeah I agree. I think it probably offered a level of defence but was not the primary purpose.
You never saw the article where Stegosaur plates were used to glide?
Even if they were mobile it would be easier to hold then vertically than horizontally IMO.
Well I Imagined it as if they would naturally fall into a more horizontal position under their own weight. Not completely horizontal, but enough to confuse us as to why the plates would grow to such large sizes. To me, when I see how large the plates were combined with the knowledge that they weren't even connected to the skeleton, I find it hard to believe that they would sit fully vertical. But if they were for display, surely they wouldve stayed a size that could sit vertically?
I do think that they would use them as defense, but not in the strict sense of the word, but rather as a passive form of defense. Let me explain, these animals, in addition to having the plates, had two pairs of spines on their tail, which they effectively used as a weapon (both in conflicts with other stegosauruses and as a defense against predators), the plates could well have been used as intimidation and threat before launch an attack, in a similar way to what elephants and other animals do, the plates would serve to make the stegosaurus appear larger and more threatening and all that combined with threatening movements of the pointed and dangerous tail, would surely help the stegosaurus to keep away his enemies, only attacking in self-defense when he had no other choice
Yes, but could the plates be used for flight?
Absolutely. Stegosaurus would migrate to Antarctica by flight. Thanks for pointing that out!
This comment is here only to boost the likelihood of other people seeing this video
Aw cheers man!
It's obvious! They used their plates to eat dinner off of. Duh! 🤓
😂