Re: Continental predators, etc.

["David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marilyn Wegweiser" <mdwegweiser@hotmail.com>
To: <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>; <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 1:11 AM
Subject: Re: Continental predators, etc.


> >From: "David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>
> >Reply-To: david.marjanovic@gmx.at

Interesting to see I have a Reply-To line... ~:-|

> >To: "The Dinosaur Mailing List" <dinosaur@usc.edu>
> >Subject: Re: Continental predators, etc.
> >Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 15:58:45 +0200
> >
> >[...]
> >I can't think of _unequivocal_ fossil evidence of arms races at the
moment.
> >The most famous example, the cursorial adaptations of horses, are
regarded
> >by ?some as adaptations for migrating rather than running.
>
> Keep in mind that Smiledon critter that cohavbited with horses, now found
in
> the La Brea tarpits and its coeval predatory friend, the dire wolf. Of
> course, horse running to migrate rather than avoiding being a meal makes
> sense? I own a horse - they don't run much of anywhere, except to get away
:
> Flight or Fight....

...as adaptations for walking large distances with very little energy. These
?happen to be the same ones that make running easier: light lower
extremities.

> > > >There is a basic asymmetry here since the prey
> > > > risks its life while the predator only risks missing a meal and is
> > > > therefore probably unwilling to take more than a small risk.
> > >
> > > In tough times, missing a meal means risking your life.
> >
> >But such tough times are rare.
>
> You cannot be actually serious? Tough times are the daily norm for a
> predator, and for the prey alike. [...]

_Such_ tough times, when missing _one_ meal means risking its life for a
predator, are relatively rare. The "basic asymmetry" is still there.