Re: Deinocheirus 2nd try

[JAMES ARONIS <Apollo@MLink.net>]

_Deinocheirus_  possessed the most formidable set of forelimbs on any creature
hitherto discovered. It's arms and claws are unlike those found in its relative,
_Therizinosaurus_. Apparently the proportions of key bones in the forelimbs are 
not
the same. I belive the forearms are proportionately shorter than those in
_Therizinosaurus_. The claws are also very different being more curved and 
thicker
relative to length. Admittedly, they do appear like predatory devices from a 
casual
glance, but looks are often deceiving in the world of paleontology.

In any case, it's difficult to determine with certainty in the absence of 
additional
material (most notably, the skull). I too, have often times speculated on the 
diet of
_Deinocheirus_  and its general appearance. Although in the past 
paleontologists had
proposed _Deinocheirus_ as a ~25' tall super-predator in a world where 
dinosaurs such
as _Tyrannosaurus_ were primarily scavengers, this hypothesis has since been 
revised.
Current speculation on _Deinocheirus'_ feeding habits runs the gamut from being
herbivorous, carnivorous, or even possibly omnivorous. All this speculation is a
result of not knowing what the skull was like.

If _Deinocheirus_ was indeed carnivorous, it would have gone against the 
evolutionary
trend amongst giant predatory dinosaurs that rely on dentition for their main
weaponry. The forelimbs of theropods have seen a gradual decline in size 
throughout
their evolution. What evolutionary pressure would have been exerted on 
_Deinocheirus_
to evolve huge arms and claws for killing, would largely have depended on the 
type of
prey it hunted. If indeed more complete _Deinocheirus_  remains are found one 
day,
and it proves to have been a predator after all, I would love to know what kind 
of
animal fell victim to those claws...



"THammann@t-online.de" wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> once more a question about Deinocheirus. Hope not to get on your nerves too
> much...:-)))
>
> Some sources say that it was probably a plant eater and used its huge arms and
> claws for branching the trees. Other sources say that Deinocheirus could have
> fed on ants and needed its tools for digging. Older souces say that it was a
> huge predator which fed on huge prey or at least on fish. But what do the arms
> and claws tell the scientists? For which of these forms of feeding where they
> probably made?
>
> Thanks in advance for any information about that.
> Thomas