Re: Phorusrhacids killing large mammals in National Geographic Channel

[Graydon <oak@uniserve.com>]

On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 02:47:41PM +1000, Dann Pigdon scripsit:
> That's if they used their heads at all to kill prey. It makes more
> sense to subdue prey with well- armoured feet at the end of muscular
> legs, rather than risk bringing the head close to it. You can survive
> losing the occasional toe, but brain damage can really ruin your day. 

Falcons use the beak to kill.  Buteos and eagles don't.

Gulls, with a curved beak tip, also use the beak to kill, what with
having those webbed feet and all.

That said, the lack of lateral compression in phorusrhacid beaks is
likely a better argument against this mode of subduing prey than the
curved tip is.

-- Graydon