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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.