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To: Interesting Times

Thanks for the large critters vs. gravity ping.

I would like to see more investigation of the differences in oxygen and mitochondria (and thus ATP and muscle strength) before and after the big impact about 65 million years ago.

I have read that insects are limited in size because of their inefficient respiratory systems — but there were dragonflies six times larger than present dragonflies.


214 posted on 03/31/2008 6:49:48 PM PDT by zot
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To: zot
I have read that insects are limited in size because of their inefficient respiratory systems — but there were dragonflies six times larger than present dragonflies.

As pointed out on here... and these six times larger dragonflies have NO adaptation for their larger size... no proportionately larger wings, which are only 36 times larger surface area to support the dragonfly's 216 times heavier weight, no larger muscle attachment points on their exoskeletons to support the larger muscle engines needed to lift the dragonfly with its far heavier weight ... this flies in the face of logic.

Something was different about conditions that allowed dragonflies of this size to live and fly. What?

225 posted on 03/31/2008 9:26:41 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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