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Mamenchisaurus: The 41% Neck and the Engineering of Gigantism
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We dive into the biology of Mamenchisaurus youngii, whose neck accounted for about 41% of its body length. Learn how pneumatic bones filled with air pockets lightened the mass to roughly 0.5 g/cm^3, how overlapping ossified tendons acted as tension cables to stiffen a long neck, and how an avian-style respiratory system kept the animal breathing efficiently. And discover why a horizontal posture—not a towering reach—made the neck an energy-saving, wide-foraging tool, a masterclass in evolutionary engineering.
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