Re: T. rex eating habits

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

>From: ornstn@hookup.net (Ronald Orenstein)
 > >Are any of the T. rex fossils sufficiently intact for hard objects in their
 > >digestive systems (if any) to be identified?  And if so, are there any bones
 > >in there?
 > 
 > It strikes me that there may be reasonable evidence out there somewhere as
 > to how therapods (sensu extremely lato) dealt with prey.

There is some evidence for large theropods in general, but none that
I know of for T. rex in particular.  That is, I have heard that there
are some bones from the Morrison, and maybe elsewhere, with tooth-
marks on them that correspond to large therepods from the same area.

This indicates stripping of flesh, not bone swallowing.

Also, the front teeth of T. rex are specialized for shearing,
and so it seems likely they stripped the carcass normally.


The problem is that few of the fossils of potential prey actually
died from predation.  The reason is simple: predators tend to
break up the carcass quite a bit, both from biting and from trampling.
This results in a much lower fossilization potential, and in much
more fragmentary fossils in general.

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

The peace of God be with you.