Re: Phorusrhacids killing large mammals in National Geographic Channel

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

Still don't know if there's a way to get more of the header displayed in 
replies.

Anyway, a herbivorous diet for *Gastornis* has been defended in 
Magnificent Mihirungs, where it says that this kind of beak shape is 
ideal for viciously ripping out the heart of a... palm tree.

frank bliss schrieb:
> Applying this to dinosaurs would be impossible except to say that your 
> basic dinosaur probably didn't have the cleanest dental hygene and 
> therefore a bite from almost anything can and could turn into a nasty 
> infection. Don't let a Varanus kimodoesnsis get his teeth on you or 
> you'll be taking antibiotics for a while assuming you get away.  
> Nasty!  There has been a lot of chatter about species of dinosaurs 
> have used the flora living in their mouths by just getting a bite in, 
> stepping back and being patient letting the infection kill their 
> intended prey.  They avoid a greater risk of injury in a fight that 
> way. Something about survival advantage......
Most, if not all, of the tale of the nasty bacteria in *Varanus 
komodoensis* (that's right: ko-mo-do-en-sis) spittle is demonstrably 
false. The symptoms of being bitten don't fit an infection, but they fit 
snake venoms, and indeed the beast produces a pretty serious venom. Was 
all over the science news a year or three ago.