RE: Comments?

[Tim Madden <TMADDEN@medicode.mhs.compuserve.com>]

>>Imagine a T-Rex watching as a pack of smaller predators make a kill. It
>>then
>>moves in and chases them away, then eats its fill.
>>Comments?

> A lion is not much bigger than a hyena. Either could kill the same game.
My impression is that lions are much bigger. At least a lion can kill a
hyena (as was shown in the show).

> Those who advocate that T.rex is a scavenger presumably also advocate
> any large theropod to be a scavenger. Therefore what is killing the large
> game?
If all large theropods are scavengers, I agree, we have a big problem.

> By process of elimination, it must be the small theropods. Several
> problems: 1. there is no conclusive evidence that smaller theropods hunted
> in packs,
Agreed. But is there conclusive evidence all small theropods didn't hunt
in packs?

> 2. if packs of small theropods could bring down large game, they
> would also be a match for a large theropod trying to bully them away
> from their kill,
I disagree. Pack tactics are to CHASE a subject down, wear it out, and
then kill. When a subject stands and fights, the individual members
get shy, unwilling to risk injury. In the case of another larger
predator, it is generally better to be patient and wait for it to
eat its fill.