RE: Velociraptor v. Protoceratops?

["Rob Gay" <rob_redwing@hotmail.com>]

> Are you suggesting natural causes?  I can see it now, the Velociraptor,
upset by the death and scavenging of his pet Protoceratops, grief stricken, 
has a heart attack and dies trying to get it to play just one more 
time......<
Of course, its all clear now! ;)

> Seriously, though, I am always fascinated when a skeleton is so complete 
> and well preserved, in articulation, but is missing a leg or arm or 
> something.  Even more bizarre to me is when they are missing a
section of tail vertebrae or back vertebrae.  Other than erosion and
scavenging, what causes this to happen?<
Ah hah! This is part of the reason for my stuff with modern taphonomy here 
on the forest. It is interesting, indeed. One ancedote from my time up here, 
which has some bearing on this subject.
I came upon a dead calf, entirely articulated, curled slightly to the right, 
in a streambed. It was missing only the head and both forelimbs. However, 
both forelimbs were located 3 meters further upstream, on the bank! So, its 
possible, I think, that during deposition or transport of this specimen, the 
limbs may have been removed by transpotration. You may say, "But everything 
on the _Velociraptor_ is together," or something to that effect. But if 
there is connective tissue present, why wouldn't it still stay together. All 
I can do is point to the calf, and note that everything else was perfectly 
in articulation, and there was still a _lot_ of connective tissue present.
Peace,
Rob

Student of Geology
Northern Arizona University
Biological Science Tech
Manti-La Sal National Forest
AIM: TarryAGoat
http://www.geocities.com/elvisimposter/dinopics.html
http://www.cafepress.com/RobsDinos
"A _Coelophysis_ with feathers?"

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp