Re: Carcharodontosaurus & Spinosaurus

[Mickey Rowe <rowe@psych.ucsb.edu>]

Same as last one... -- MPR 

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Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 14:36:20 -0400
From: Michael Habib <mbh3q@virginia.edu>
To: simbabbad@batbad.com
CC: dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: Re: Carcharodontosaurus & Spinosaurus
References: <20010801172204.45381.qmail@web12405.mail.yahoo.com> 
<3B683FFD.6499FC71@sas.upenn.edu> <3B7460E3.36470116@batbad.com>

> Is it possible that _Spinosaurus_ anatomy was also adapted to attack
> crocodiles, giant turtles, and other marine reptiles like long-necked
> plesiosaurs while they rested on the shore (if they actually did, that is) ?
>
>  Just fish for diet for such a big animal seems surprising...

It is quite likely that a predator as large as S. aegyptiacus did eat items such
as medium sized crocs, turtles and other coastal reptile species.  These
semi-aquatic animals were present, they were smaller than the spinosaurs, and
they were probably tasty.  However, keep in mind that the "optimal" jaw
structure for capturing fish is not particularly well suited to eating turtles
or crocs.  In other words, while it is certainly a viable idea that S.
aegyptiacus did eat a number of different coastal species, this makes it a
generalist, not a specialist.  If S. aegyptiacus was indeed a specialist on
fish, then it would probably not attack crocs or turtles (the latter,
especially, requires rather hefty jaws unlike those of a full-time piscavore.)

An example from modern ecosystems: Crocodylus cataphractus (African
Slend-Snouted Crocodile) eat mostly fish, and some other aquatic prey.  They
completely ignore turtles, even when the crocs and turtles are placed in closed
quarters with each other (personal observation).

- --Michael Habib
mbh3q@virginia.edu
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