description John Whitlock Overview
John A. Whitlock is a vertebrate paleontologist whose research centers on the systematics, anatomy, ecology, and evolution of sauropod dinosaurs. In a study of diplodocoids, he compared snout shape and dental microwear to infer feeding height and feeding strategy. The analysis identified evidence for both ground-height, nonselective browsing and mid-height, selective browsing among different diplodocoid taxa.
He has also published on sauropod phylogeny and dentition.
help John Whitlock FAQ
What kind of dinosaurs does John Whitlock study?
John A. Whitlock is a vertebrate paleontologist whose work focuses heavily on sauropod dinosaurs, including diplodocoids. His research combines anatomy, systematics, ecology, and evolutionary interpretation.
What did Whitlock study about diplodocoid feeding?
His research compared snout shape with dental microwear to infer where and how diplodocoid sauropods browsed. The study examined possibilities ranging from ground-height feeding to mid-height and upper-canopy browsing. [PubMed study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21494685/)
What can dinosaur teeth reveal about feeding behavior?
Microscopic wear patterns on teeth can preserve evidence about the texture and motion of the plants an animal processed. Whitlock used dental microwear together with skull shape rather than relying on skull proportions alone.
Why are diplodocoid snouts important in Whitlock's research?
Different snout shapes may correspond to different feeding strategies among diplodocoids. His work identified evidence for both ground-height non-selective browsing and selective browsing at greater height.
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