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Hola.
La investigadora Marie-Celine Buchy ha escrito para contestar vuestras preguntas acerca del "monstruo de Armberri":
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Hi, Palaeofreak,
I went through the comments (with help for Spanish - I hope I got everything)
So:
1/ José Luis about the weight: between the 50 and 150 tons, is all a matter of comparison. If you compare with a marine mammal, and therefore suggest that marine reptiles also had fat stocks in adipose tissues, then you reach for such a volume, about 150 tons. If you compare with a croc, and consider that the fat was reduced, then it's more 50 tons. But of course, nobody knows, for the moment. (bone histology somewhen might reveal something?
it's not my field...) It is a very good question actually, because it determines whether or not the animals could swimm for long in cold water, and therefore how they distributed around the world...
2/ Cindy. She does not trust us, does she?
The place is difficult to explain via e-mail, it's north of the colonia at the entrance of the city direction La Escondida, but I really wonder how she can ignore it now. Half the population was there for the helicopter action. In case, she should ask at the Maria Luisa hotel, they will tell her. The site is open (it's a private property as understood in Mexico); we protected the layer with plaster and rocks, not against people buy against weather. Of course if she goes there, she might find pieces of bone. Then, she should collect them, absolutely, if she can. They can be washed with water (carefull brushing please!), and the bone shines blue, when the rock is grey. Then, she should contact our Mexican colleague Dr Lupe Lopez-Oliva in the university of Linares (full address is available on the poster at the entrance of the city hall), or wait until next September when we come (we will be at the Maria Luisa). If the piece is too big, she should directly contact Lupe.
Of course, fossils should be protected - that means collected when found. We find them because they are slowly weathered, but we cannot be there all the time. Whatever she finds wherever in the mountains is worth checking.
3/ Ivan - sorry. Too long. I'm sure there are sites upon pliosaurs in Spanish, and better, books as well!
4/ Juan Enriquez
The history of the discovery is available on our web site, in English, German and French, we're working on a Spanish version (because of you!). In short, it was discovered in 1986 and identified as a dinosaur, until 2000 when Dino and myself went to Linares to check the reptile collections. A general question about the return of the Monster to Aramberri: the answer is never. It is a unique fossil, which might become a holotype, and must be kept in a national collection: the uni of Linares. BUT there will be casts produced (which resist rain) and we're discussing with the city council about a museum and/or site exhibition. A small city like Aramberri would not be able to accommodate such a huge thing, and currate it properly to ensure access to scientists of the whole world for "ever".
This project of a museum is of course the decision of the city, and we can only help, if they want it.
As a general state of mind of our team, yes, we would like to establish something in Aramberri that benefits the city, and the citizens, with whom we spent so many nice moments.
Another general question: we were granted (it's German system) for field work for the years 2001, 2002, and had a two-years grant following. It means that next year should be the last field campaign in Aramberri. But pliosaurs are known from other localities close to Aramberri (Saragoza, and on the other side of the sierra west of La Escondida), so we should not leave the area for a while.
For the people from Aramberri, a poster in the city hall should be still available. For the others, our web site is running (sorry we cannot install a link with yours because we're an official institution), and will be regularly updated, especially about preparation, in order to show Mexicans what we're doing with their heritage.
Well, that was long, but like that you can answer.
If some unusual question turns up, it's welcome!
Cheers
Marie
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