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Re: Ptero-hawks?


Larry,
Maybe occasionally under extreme conditions, but I find it hard to imagine specialized piscivores eating their own kind. Even kingfishers, which will go after a variety of aquatic prey-----hard to imagine them going after other birds (even if they did had teeth), unless they were starving.
As for specialized ptero-hawks, possible but improbable. I'm trying to imagine a specialized "bat-eating bat" evolving. Never say never, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Sorry if I am repeating anything someone else has said, but I haven't been following this thread. The idea just doesn't seem very promising, although it is admittedly somewhat appealing. :-)
-------Ken
******************************************************** 
From: "Larry Febo" <larryf@capital.net>
Reply-To: larryf@capital.net
To: "Richard Pearce" <tpearce@cix.co.uk>, <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Subject: Re: Ptero-hawks?
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 09:25:30 -0500


-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Pearce <tpearce@cix.co.uk>
To: dinosaur@usc.edu <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Date: Friday, March 23, 2001 9:58 AM
Subject: Ptero-hawks?


>Hi all,
>
>Is there any evidence, published or unpublished, that lends credence to
>pterosaur-on-pterosaur predation? The idea of a pterosaurian equivalent of a
>peregrine or sparrowhawk is very appealing, but is it at all possible - and
>if not, why not?
>
>Regards,
>
>Richard
>

No direct evidence (that I am aware of), ...but I don`t see why not. If not
a "specialized" feeder of other pterosaurs, then certainly an occasional
meal. If the majority were fish eaters with those long pointed teeth, then I
can`t see why a larger one wouldn`t just pounce on a smaller one,...perhaps
a different species. Those filter-feeder type pterosaurs, (Ctenochasma,
Gnathosaurus) might make likely prey candidates, especially the smaller
juveniles.


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