Re: T-rex as a scavenger

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM>]

 From: Keifa@aol.com
 > I have heard John Horner's theory of T-rex being a scavenger.  He feels that
 > T-rex's stubby arms would be quite useless as a predator
 > ... However, I have recently seen a documentary showing a Kimodo
 > Dragon killing it's prey entirely with it's mouth.

Ah, so you noticed that did you? :-)

Also, owls, and often wolves, use variants on this approach.
[To name just a couple].

So, yes, there is no reason that T. rex couldn't do the same.

Also, both Dr. Holz and Dr. Paul have amassed evidence that T. rex
was relativly cursorial (for its size), which would be truly *odd*
in a pure scavenger. (Why be designed for speed if you are so
large you have no enemies, and you don't need to chase anything?)

Also, I know of no large *ground* animals that are pure scavengers.
The largest primary scavengers I know of are the condors, and they
can *fly*, giving them a much larger effective range than any purely
terrestrial animal could possibly have.

Though you should also note that no large animal I know of will
refuse dead meat if it is available - I mean why pass up a free
meal?  So, I have no doubt that T. rex ate about everything it
could get its mouth on.


Actually, I am not entirely convinced that the arms of T. rex were
of no use in hunting.  The powerful muscles, and the relative
inflexibility of the arms (the joints wer unable to move very far),
combined with the hooked claws make the arms look like good
grappling hooks to keep the prey from moving.  This seems to be
rather potentially useful in attacking a Triceratops.

swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.