Re: Skeletons in Dinosaur Closets

[sean.kerns@sdrc.com (Snake)]

> 
> How conclusive/persuasive is the evidence that Coelophysis practiced 
> cannibalism? I tend to think of all dinosaurs as noble creatures and 
> would prefer the image of a mother dinosaur sacrificing herself to save 
> her children rather than one so self-centered that she would devour her 
> own offspring. Are there many vertebrate species--extant or extinct--that 
> devour their own kind and/or offspring?

I know from my own experiences with pet snakes that some species
will eat their young. Male mice also will eat their young, and the
females tend not to eat _their_ young, but will happily ingest
someone elses.

As for dinos, I can't imagine a lrge predator passing up any good,
free meal, their own species or not.
> 
> ----- Amado Narvaez
>       anarvaez@umd5.umd.edu
> 


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|    Sean R. "Snake" Kerns              e-mail: sean.kerns@sdrc.com |  
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|    Structural Dynamics Research Corporation    '79 AQHA           | 
|    These opinions aren't SDRC's...  They may not even be MINE...  |
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