Re: Gingko berries as evidence of dino sense of smell?

["TRUETT GARNER" <DINOBOY@worldnet.att.net>]

----------
> From: dbensen <dbensen@gotnet.net>
> To: bigelowp@juno.com
> Cc: dinosaur@usc.edu
> Subject: Re: Gingko berries as evidence of dino sense of smell?
> Date: Friday, February 04, 2000 6:49 PM
> 
> >>Since the fleshy portion of ginkgo fruits NEVER "ripen" (they remain
> bitter.....at least that's what I've read), it could be argued that the
> fruits did not evolve to be eaten by vertebrates at any stage of the
> fruit's development.<<
> 
> OR, that dinosaurs had a sence of smell, but not taste.  Don't modern
birds
> have retarded sences of taste, reletive to mammals?  Maybe the fact that
the
> fruit never ripens is a clue that, once the dinosaurs go the fruit in
their
> mouths, they didn't care any more about it.
> 
It is strongly suspected that birds were responsible for the spreading of
Capsicums throughout South and North America .Capsicums are better known as
hot peppers - Habaneroes , Chiltepins , Cayennes , all extremely pungent ,
yet have no effect on birds . The original wild peppers were bright red and
berry-sized  , and obviously very attractive to avian dinosaurs . So maybe
other dinosaurs were not equipped with an abundance of taste-buds on their
tongues .
My $.02 worth , 
Truett Garner