Re: So-called sickle claws

["Peter Von Sholly" <vonrex@gte.net>]

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> From: Jeffrey Martz <martz@holly.ColoState.EDU>
> To: tuckercj@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu
> Cc: akins@msu.oscs.montana.edu; Dinogeorge@aol.com; dinosaur@usc.edu
> Subject: Re: So-called sickle claws
> Date: Thursday, October 02, 1997 7:54 AM
> 
> 
> 
> 
>       For use on what sized prey?  Don't all these predatory birds focus
> an animals thier size or smaller?  Ripping open a little animal with
> relatively thin skin may be relatively easy compared to trying to
> disembowl a much larger animal and probably thicker skinned animal,
> paricularly one that doesn't want to be disembowled. 

As opposed to one that does want to be disemboweled. (kidding)


 Modern slashing
> birds may suggest that dromeosaurs specialized on animals thier size or
> considerably smaller, but finding modern analogues for big game hunting
> dromeosaurs may be impossible. 

Well, big game hunting may not have been the way they worked.  Why risk
your life if you can catch and eat smaller, less formidable prey?  Calling
the pack hunting behavior into question again (groan). 
> 
> LN Jeff
>