Re: rampant speculation

["Steve Brusatte" <dinoland@lycos.com>]

On Mon, 20 Aug 2001 01:02:10  
 Dinogeorge wrote:
>In a message dated 8/19/01 9:41:29 PM EST, thescelosaurus@juno.com writes:
>
><< The basic question, though, is: could small to medium sized ornithopods 
>have been in competition with at least partially herbivorous coelurosaurians 
>in the Cretaceous, leading to a decline in numbers and diversity of the 
>former? >>
>
>You might also consider competition from herbivorous mammals.

Well, what mammals are we talking about??  Very few Cretaceous mammals reached 
the size of a cat, and could something that small really compete with small to 
medium sized ornithopods??  Maybe, but I doubt it.  

And, if I could speak for Justin for a moment, I think that he is not only 
noting the decline of small-medium ornithopods, but also the rise in diversity 
of coelurosaurs.  So, he formulated a hypothesis to take both of these 
observations into account.  

However, as Mickey posted, there are more Cretaceous ornithopods than first 
appear to meet the eye.  I have serious doubts that many coelurosaurs were 
herbivorous, and if they were, I question whether they could pose a threat to 
small-medium ornithopods.  Good hypothesis, though, and something that is 
difficult to disprove.  

Steve

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