Re: CARELESS RAPTORS AND CERATOPSIAN RINGS

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

 > The reason I asked if ceratopsians are known from grassland-type
 > habitats or not is that, unless they did, they would not have had
 > time to respond similarly (i.e. by ring forming). As far as I know,
 > all ceratopsians were forest dwellers,

This is not entirely clear.

The known specimens are from floodplain habitats, and based on
the known plant fossils these may have had a mosaic of open and
forested communities.  My own studies (a personal on-going project)
suggest a predominately forested floodplain, but I have seen
published articles suggesting a more open structure for at least
the distal backswamp areas.  There are certainly some fossils
of cattail/sedge-like plants that could have formed extensive
marshes in some areas.

[However, Triceratops *does* seem to have avoided the wettest,
swampy, areas of the floodplain - which were the domain of
Edmontosaurus].

And then, as Dr. Holz pointed out, there is little evidence for
the nature of the upland vegetation.  (Though, as a low-lying
coastal plain, it is possible that the area *had* very little
upland habitat).

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

The peace of God be with you.