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Re: Phorusrhacids killing large mammals in National Geographic Channel
> > Is it likely a Phorusrhacid would be similarly doomed
> by a defensive bite from a mammal?
>
> isn't a small mammal (ie a mouse) just as
> vulnerable to being in a predator's mouth as a small
> bird? a Phorusrhacid would likely have tougher skin
> than a parakeet does.
I don't know how a small mouse would fare after having been in a cats mouth.
Obviously, the wounds from the teeth are the more immediate threat.
In the event a mouse is rescued *mid attack* from a cats mouth, such that there
are no deep cuts - no blood loss, no organs or bones damaged... I have no idea
how it would cope.
I was just wondering if anyone knew the "relative strength" of bird vs mammal
immune systems.
I was just surprised how quickly this (obviously escaped pet) bird succumbed to
infection after very minor wounds. Other than that, I have no idea about the
strength of bird immune systems, so I was just wondering if they are in general
"weak", and wondering what effect this would have on their predation methods.