Apatosaurus Tail Crack Was Debated

In 1997, researchers proposed that the long, tapering tail of Apatosaurus could work like a giant bullwhip. Their model suggested the tip might move fast enough to create a crack louder than 200 decibels, which led to dramatic ideas about tail displays, defense, and even sexual selection. But newer work in 2022 pushed back, arguing that the tail’s real tissues and structure would probably break down before it ever reached that kind of speed.

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