Re: Tyrannosaurus "Scavenger vs. Predator" debate - Some questions for Dr. Jack Horner:

[Graydon <oak@uniserve.com>]

On Tue, Feb 17, 2004 at 04:39:58PM -0800, Phil Bigelow scripsit:
> I still think biting the horns is a big waste of a predator's energy.
> If the T. rex is busy restraining the Triceratops' horns with its
> mouth, then it has no opportunity to kill the Triceratops.  It can
> only use its mouth for one purpose at any given moment.

Sure, but it has those big feet; get the head enough off line and step
on the back to pull the triceratops over, kick it in the ribs, try to
disembowel, there are possibly offensive non-mouth options, just not
very darn many *manipulative* ones.

> The best defense against a pair of charging horns is to run off to the
> side (bull-fighting matadors do this).

Theropods are beams on springs; we're columns on stilts.  Terrible
models for each other's locomotion.  (Does the theropod leg even *allow*
scuttling sideways?  They sure aren't going to be doing any twirls...)

> Biting the horns wastes precious calories, and worse, you don't  even
> get a meal out of the deal.  It's akin to arriving late to a dinner
> party, no food left for you, and you get stiffed with the bill.

Step One -- do not die.

With the possible exception of reproductive success, all else is
secondary to this consideration.

-- 
oak@uniserve.com | Uton we hycgan    hwaer we ham agen,
                 | ond thonne gedhencan    he we thider cumen.
                 |   -- The Seafarer, ll. 117-118.