CompuServe Thread

Warm-Blooded Dinos?

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#16113From: Michael SternbergJan 26, 1995 12:13 AM
The large pelagic fishes and sharks, such as marlin, tuna have both white and red muscle mass. In the tuna, the red muscle lies close to the vertebral column, with the rest of the flesh having a pinkish color. The large bluefins can reach an internal temp of 95degF (35deg C), and generally swim constantly. The red muscle tissue is slow-oxidative, the pink is fast-oxidative/glycolytic and the white muscle is fast-glycolytic. In order listed, they proceed from greater endurance/slower contraction to shorter endurance/faster contraction. Many fresh water fish, more sedentary, have relatively little red muscle mass, and are relatively ectothermic. Chris McGowan has written a wonderful book that discusses this and other fascinating information in _Diatoms to Dinosaurs, The Size and Scale of Living Things_, Island Press, ISBN 1-55963-304-2. It's not a difficult read and I think presents a lot of handy information. M