Re: T.rex as scavenger

[Scott <HORTON@BCRSSU.AGR.CA>]

>As I understand it, the claim is not that all large theropods were
>scavengers, but that T. rex was a scavenger (based in part on the
>length of its arms, I think). If so, the rest of your argument
>fails
>Vicki Rosenzweig

If other large theropods did not have to rely on scavenging, then their
argument (that rex was too big to be a hunter) falls apart. I don't think that
small arms is much of a handicap, it may be a benefit. It allows larger jaws
and/or (somebody else's idea) better balance. T.rex evolved from a smaller
theropod, which was probably a hunter. It is more likely, IMHO, that rex's
arms evolved smaller to make it a better hunter than that the arms evolved
smaller just because they weren't needed anymore. Don't the other tyrannosaurs
(eg. Albertosaurus) also have short arms? If so, you would have to say that
all tyrannosaurs branched off of a medium-large theropod scavenger. Or (very
unlikely) that all tyrannosaurs independantly evolved short arms.

Scott Horton
Geophysicist/Computer Programmer