Re: functional morphology of killing claws and teeth

[Richard W Travsky <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>]

On Sat, 11 Apr 1998, Stanley Friesen wrote:
> At 05:03 PM 4/5/98 -0700, Betty Cunningham wrote:
> >> At 11:07 PM 4/3/98 -0800, Ralph Miller III wrote:
> >> >As most likely primary purposes for dromaeosaur "sickle claws," 
> >> >I vote for stabbing, raking, and snagging.  Look to the cats for
> >> >ideas.
> >
> >Stanley Friesen wrote:
> >> Climbing trees?
> >
> >marking territory?
> >
> Hmm, interesting.
> 
> They do seem to have a number of possible uses.

Add making noise. Deer use their antlers in this fashion. Imagine
the racket they could make with their claws scraping them over
rocks and trees.

rich