T. rex the predator

["Colette H. Adams" <cadams@hh.gpz.org>]

Jonathan, I don't know if you've seen Predatory Dinosaurs of the World by
Greg Paul, but Greg rightly points out that "true" scavenging is quite rare
among terrestrial vertebrates.  There are just not enough carcasses.
Vultures get away with it (more or less, they do kill on occasion) because
they use soaring to cover considerable distances at low energy cost.  To
move a multi-ton T. rex body from carcass to carcass requires ENERGY.  What
could possibly kill enough meat to keep a T. rex fed except another T. rex?
 This is basically your point number 5, and it is right on the mark.

Basically I agree with all of your other points, but in fairness to Dr.
Horner, I think his point about the small size of tyrannosaur forelimbs was
that with only its head and hind limbs (with no talons), T. rex just
couldn't stop a fleeing Triceratops.  It would risk a lethal fall trying to
grapple with such prey.  I think you would agree that this argument doesn't
really hold water.  I have no doubt that Dr. Horner has caught a lot of
hell for his ideas.  I for one consider him to be a sharp dude and an
excellent scientist.  I am grateful that he and others are willing to
propose bold hypotheses and take the heat for it.  It is one of the
hallmarks of good science.

Best regards,

Dave