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Re: The New Papers That Preys



Candeiro, C.R.A., and Tanke, D.H. 2008. A pathological Late Cretaceous
carcharodontosaurid tooth from Minars Gerais, Brazil. Bulletin of
Geosciences 83(3).

ABSTRACT: A theropod (Carcharodontosauridae) tooth exhibiting a split carina
is the first recorded from upper Maastrichtian Marília Formation (Serra da
Galga Member), Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The distal split carina has a
distinct Y-shape. Split carinae have been reported elsewhere in Laurasian
theropods (tyrannosaurids and allosaurids).

So we now have a definite record of a carcharodontosaurid from the Maastrichtian? Upper Maastrichtian even?


Hummel, J., and Clauss, M. 2008. Megaherbivores as pacemakers of carnivore
diversity and biomass: distributing or sinking trophic energy? Evolutionary
Ecology Research 10.


[...]
Conclusion: Extant (mammalian) megaherbivore populations represent trophic
sinks that potentially limit carnivore diversity and productivity, because
they are immune to predation and follow a reproductive strategy of very few,
well-protected offspring. In contrast, in dinosaur faunas, the
particularities of reproductive biology such as a larger number of offspring
and limited parental care made a major part of megaherbivore biomass
available to carnivores. Consequently, this increase in available trophic
energy allowed for larger body masses and higher species diversity of
dinosaur carnivores.

That might solve a couple of very big questions.