Re: T. Rex Eating Habits

[core@twics.com (Corey R J Reid)]

>From cnedin@geology.adelaide.edu.au:

>The
>construction of the T. rex tooth would not allow for active crushing of
>large bone. It seems likely therefore, that T. rex would eat small animals
>whole (the teeth are not very useful for chewing) but probably either
>sheared meat off larger prey or possibly snapped large bones once and
>swallowed.

In a wonderful book called Predatory Dinosaurs of the World, Gregory S.
Paul asserts much the same thing, and notes that the "D"-shaped
cross-section of the tyrannosaur tooth supports the idea of shearing meat
from large prey.  He develops an entire hunting system around this notion
which is certainly thrilling to imagine!

A request:  Can anyone suggest a good work on the general enviroment of
late Cretaceous North America? What I'm looking for is a book (or books)
that will detail the flora and fauna, with as accurate and precise a
timeline as possible.  Not just dinosaurs but plants, bugs and other
beasties.

Thanks.


"For man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion."

        core